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Situation
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Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
has always been a site of pilgrimage. In the Merovingian era, one
came from afar to pray to St Hippolite.
In the 14th century, this worship disappeared in favor of the Saintes-Maries.
Legend has it that two sisters, Marie-Jacobé and Marie-Salomé
landed on the beach of Les Saintes. They where coming from Palestine
on an unsafe boat, in company of some followers of Christ. Marie-Jacobé
and Marie-Salomé converted the nomads who frequented the
lagoons to the new faith. After a charitable life, the sisters received
the sacrement from the bishop of Arles : Saint-Trophime.
Who was therefore this Sainte-Sarah who the gipsies come to honour
each year, on the 24th of May ? It must be the egyptian servant
of the two Maries. Some say that she lived with the two sisters
in Palestine. When the jews exiled them by boat, Sarah was left
ashore. Wanting absolutely to share in the fate of her mistresses,
Sarah spread her veil onto the waves which turns into a boat allowing
her to join them.
Others claim that Sarah was recruited after the arrival of the two
sisters.
Lastly, the gipsy tradition has it that during the migrations which
took them from the eastern countries toward the sea, a woman of
dark skin guided them through their trials. The gipsies identify
Sarah with this mythical personnality and she thus became their
patron Saint.
The festivities take place in two days : the 24th and 25th May,
of which the second day is dedicated to the Saints. The pilgrims
transport through the streets of the town a boat richly decorated
with flowers, in which are found the images of the Saints.
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Visits |
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The
fortified church
Built at the mouth of the Petit Rhone river, this church played a
strategic role : when the pirates who ravaged the deserted coastline,
faraway from the big cities appeared, the whole population sought
refuge in the church. This explains why the walls are full of loopholes
and one can find a well. Overlooking the chancel and the apse is a
keep.
A
narrow small door, opening onto the square allows penetration of the
obscure and terribly humid fortress. Two interesting things to see:
the crypt of Saint-Sarah and the brown stone walls surrounding the
church.
The Baroncelli museum
This museum is essentially dedicated to the history of the city, to
the regional folklore and the wild life of Camargue. In the basement,
one can see slide shows of birds and animals living in the delta.
The large hall of the first floor contains gallo-roman archeological
treasures. Numerous documents about the history of the commune during
the 17th century. From the terrace one would have a panoramic view
of the church, the Vaccares lagoon and the Petit Rhone.
One will also see the tomb of the Marquis of Baroncelli, the cross
of the cowherds from Pont du Mort which represents the three fundamental
virtues of christianity : Faith, Hope and Charity. Lastly one will
find the statue of Frederic Mistral donated by his widow in 1920 to
forward his ideas as the defender of Camargue, Provence and the Occitan
language. |
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