The Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer in Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (Camargue, Provence) is a Romanesque fortified sanctuary rooted in the medieval legend of the Three Marys: Mary Jacobe, Mary Salome, and their servant Sara the Black. According to Provençal tradition, following the death and resurrection of Christ, the women fled persecution and miraculously arrived by boat on the shores of southern France, bringing Christianity to the region.
Sara the Black, venerated as the patron of the Roma people, is seen as a symbol of humility and protection. Her statue is housed in a crypt beneath the altar and is ritually immersed in the sea each May during the annual pilgrimage, a deeply symbolic act of purification and devotion.
Built between the 9th and 12th centuries on a site once dedicated to Artemis and the Celtic Matres, the church became a Christian stronghold and refuge. In 1448, during King René of Anjou’s rule, relics believed to be those of the saints were discovered, prompting the tradition of thrice-yearly ostensions (public displays of relics). Today, the church remains a center of pilgrimage and intercultural devotion, attracting thousands of visitors—Christian faithful, travelers, and Roma pilgrims—who gather to honor the enduring legacy of the Three Marys.
- Address
2 Pl. de l’Église, 13460 Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, France - Web
https://www.sanctuairedessaintesmaries.com/ - Visiting Hours
Everyday from 8:00 to 18:00 - What to see
Crypt, relics of the Three Marys
