Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume – Basilica and Tomb of Mary Magdalene

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | In the small town of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume in Provence stands a huge Gothic basilica. In the crypt are several ancient sarcophagi and relics that, according to Catholic tradition, belong to Mary Magdalene. We stopped with the camper and discovered a place with a fascinating mix of history, religion and legend.

Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume in Provence

We had left the French Mediterranean coast and started rolling north with the camper. After our visits to the Golden Islands and a night in Brignoles, the next stop was Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume.

The city is located in the Var department of Provence and is completely dominated by the mighty Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. We parked a bit away and walked towards the center.

The walk took a little longer than necessary, however, as we happened to shop for a dress, a top, and a pair of shorts along the way. That's how it can be when you're on your way to a medieval basilica.

Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine

It's hard to miss the basilica as you approach the center of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume. Construction of the large Gothic church began in the late 13th century after relics believed to belong to Mary Magdalene were found on the site.

Construction began under Charles II of Anjou and continued for several centuries. The basilica was never fully completed, as is evident from the unusually simple and unfinished west facade.

When you enter, however, it is difficult to think of anything as unfinished. The church room is high, long and powerful, and the contrast with the much smaller city outside is striking. The reason why such a large church was built here is beneath our feet.

Tomb of Mary Magdalene in Saint-Maximin

Under the basilica lies a crypt with several ancient sarcophagi. Here relics are venerated which, according to Catholic and Provençal tradition, belong to Mary Magdalene. But here you need to distinguish between history and tradition.

Mary Magdalene is a person who appears in the New Testament. She was one of Jesus' disciples, was present at the crucifixion, and is described in the Gospels as one of the first to meet the resurrected Jesus.

What happened to her later, however, is not told in the Gospels. And that is where the Provençal legend takes over.

The legend of Mary Magdalene in Provence

According to Provençal tradition, Mary Magdalene left Palestine with Martha and Lazarus, among others. They are said to have traveled across the Mediterranean and landed at the place that is today called Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the Camargue.

Mary Magdalene is said to have then preached in Marseilles together with Lazarus before retreating to the mountains at Sainte-Baume, where she is said to have lived as a hermit in a cave for the last 30 years of her life.

As she approached death, she is said to have left the cave and gone down to the plain, where she received her last communion from Saint Maximin and died in his arms.

This is, according to tradition, the explanation for the connection between Mary Magdalene, the Sainte-Baume grotto and the town of Saint-Maximin. However, there is no historical evidence that Mary Magdalene actually traveled to Provence.

The relics found in 1279

The story becomes no less exciting in the 13th century. In 1279, Charles II of Anjou had excavations carried out in Saint-Maximin. Remains were found that were identified as the relics of Mary Magdalene. The discovery gave new impetus to the pilgrimage site that had already grown up around the tradition of her.

According to the story, the relics had been hidden hundreds of years earlier for protection during troubled times. The find contained inscriptions that purportedly identified the body as that of Mary Magdalene.

Charles II later received the support of Pope Boniface VIII to allow the Dominicans to take care of the sanctuary. In 1295, Dominicans were established both in Saint-Maximin and at Sainte-Baume. It was also the discovery of the relics that was the starting point for the great basilica.

The crypt under the basilica

The crypt is probably the most fascinating part of a visit, housing ancient stone sarcophagi and the reliquary associated with Mary Magdalene.

For believers, this is a sacred place and Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume has been an important pilgrimage destination for centuries. For those who view the story more historically, the place is at least as interesting, although for different reasons.

We know that the cult of Mary Magdalene here is very old. We know that relics were found and identified as hers in the 13th century and that the find had enormous significance for the place.

If it really is Mary Magdalene Who rests here? Of course we can't know. But it's a bit ticklish to stand down in the crypt and think about it.

Sainte-Baume Cave

We visited the Basilica of Saint-Maximin itself, but anyone who wants to follow the story of Mary Magdalene further can go to Grotte de Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in the Sainte-Baume mountain massif.

According to tradition, this is where Mary Magdalene lived as a hermit. The cave is located high in the mountain and can be reached on foot through the forest. It is still an active pilgrimage site and the Dominicans have maintained a presence at the sanctuary.

This actually makes Saint-Maximin and Sainte-Baume two parts of the same story: the cave where Mary Magdalene is said to have lived and the basilica where her relics are venerated. It would have been exciting to visit the cave as well. We didn't do that this time.

To visit Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume

Although the basilica is the main attraction, it is nice to stroll for a while through the center of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume. We found the town to be much more casually French than many of the resorts we had just left along the Mediterranean coast.

And apparently there are stores. We have picture evidence of that in the form of a dress, a top, and a pair of shorts.

We came here with a camper van and found parking a bit away from the city center. Since parking regulations and opportunities for camper vans change over time, we would today check the current regulations on site instead of recommending the parking we used in 2018.

Is Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume worth a visit?

Yes, especially if you are interested in history, churches or ancient stories. The basilica is impressive in itself, but it is the story of Mary Magdalene that makes the place special.

Are the relics in the crypt really hers? Did Mary Magdalene really live her last years in a cave in Provence? We don't know.

But we know that people have been making pilgrimages here for centuries, that the tradition took on enormous significance for the area and that it resulted in a basilica that still dominates the small town.

And sometimes an old riddle doesn't have to have a definitive answer to be fascinating.

More to see in the area

Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume is well located for those traveling through Provence. Thoronet Abbey, which we also visited during this part of the trip, is not far away and offers a completely different religious environment with its stripped-down Cistercian architecture.

To the south there is Marseille and the Mediterranean coast, while Aix-en-Provence is to the west. We actually tried to visit Aix-en-Provence on the same trip, but after driving around in the camper van without finding a decent place to stay, we gave up. Sometimes it happens. Aix had to wait.