Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Travel Guide

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Explore Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Things to Do  

The Interior of the Church
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The Sacred Boat
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The interior is plain stone walls with niches , one of which in the north wall contains a small replica of the holy boat. The crypt was added in 1448 by King Rene who apparentlyhelped find the bones of the main Marys

Written Mar 14, 2011

Related to:
 Seniors
 Theme Park Trips

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Walk Around the Church of Saintes-Mairies
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Lateral View of Church
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The present church was built in 1130, although older churches have stood here. There are two important religious celebration here, one on May 24 and 25 a pilgrimage day for the arrival of the "Boat of Bethany and the other on the week end nearest to October 22 which is for "Saint Sarah", the gipsy servant who was part of the apocryphal story of the saintly landing here.

Written Mar 12, 2011

Related to:
 Family Travel
 Spa and Resort

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The beach and refreshing sea
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Muya 590 reviews
At the beach of the Saintes Maries

Being in the South of France for our friend’s wedding in Salon-de-Provence, we had a need to see the Mediterranean Sea… A real need to relax and have a swim :-) Although the mistral wind was quite strong that day, I was almost dehydrated ! I really had to drag myself to the water to get some freshness before going to look for something to drink.
It was such a great feeling to sleep on the beach for a few hours after the wedding party that took place the day before !
A car park stands just in front of the beach and only costs 3 euros for the whole day.

Updated Jan 31, 2005

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The famous church
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Muya 590 reviews
The church

The church is characterized by a single nave of 15 meter high, straight and without any ornament. The roof is surrounded by a rampart walk with crenels. Arrow slits are set in the walls and the donjon roof was used as a lookout. All this shows that the church was an ancient fortress that was also a shelter for the population. You can even find a well of fresh water inside.

The church was build near the mouth of the Petit Rhône and had a very important strategic position at the time it was erected (IXth and XIth centuries). Pirates were frightening the coast and Saracens and Arabs invasions were a real menace too..

Inside the church, at the right of the altar, stands the statue of Sara, which is part of the gipsy patrimony.

You can climb on top of the roof for 2 euros and admire the landscape of the Camargue.

Written Jan 31, 2005

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Hotels  

LE MAS DE LA FOUQUE

 5 Opinions

Mas De La Fouque

 5 Opinions

Restaurants  

Côté Sud
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Muya 590 reviews
Restaurant C��t�� Sud

I tried a specialty of the area, Gardiane de Taureau (bull meat - 9,20 euros), quite a special taste and very good. The Plate of the sea was also tasty (10 euros), and the dessert, melon marinated in Muscat de Rivesalte was really delicious. A total of 37 euros for two, including the aperitifs, in an atmosphere tinted with the warm colours of the South. Refined yet simple decoration, using the products of the South such as spices, dried fruits, seeds or corn, cloths, etc… I really had a nice evening…

Written Jan 31, 2005

Address: Avenue Frédéric Mistral

Phone: 04 90 97 60 88

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Off The Beaten Path  

Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in Moscow
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The Sea at Saintes-Maries by Vincent Van Gogh
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I (and you) may refresh our memory about Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and Provence even without leaving Moscow. We should go to the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (19th and 20th Century European and American Art Department) and see “The Sea at Saintes-Maries” (oil on canvas) by Vincent Van Gogh.
What a wonderful opportunity!

12 Volkhonka St., Moscow
(tel.: +7 495 609-95-20, +7 495 697-95-78, +7 495 697-74-12),
Metro station: "Kropotkinskaya".
Ticket price for foreign visitors 400 rubles (10 euro) for adults,
200 rubles for schoolchildren, students and pensioners.
Attention! Ticket prices for exhibitions might differ from those for permanent collections.
Visitors are offered audio guides in Russian, English, German, French and Italian.
Many exciting tours are on offer!

Open daily from 10 am to 7 pm
Thursdays from 10 am to 9 pm
Closed Monday

Updated Mar 9, 2012

Phone: +7 (495) 609-95-20,

Website: http://www.arts-museum.ru/exposition/?lang=en

Related to:
 Museum Visits
 Arts and Culture
 Photography

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Climb up on the roof of the church for aerial view
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Quite surprisingly, you can climb up (the narrow staircase) to the roof top of the church, costing you around 2 EUR. You will not be disappointed, because the aerial view to flat Camargue is suberb.

Updated Apr 4, 2011

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Favorites  

Gipsy Mecca
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Kuznetsov_Sergey 4507 reviews
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Favorite thing: The legend extended in days of board of king of Provence Rene. In 1496 Sara's remains were found. The custom of Sara's remains worship begins. 24 - on May, 25th each year of thousand gipsy-pilgrims from all over the world come here. That is why Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is a gipsy Mecca.

Updated Mar 30, 2007

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Religious Travel

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Map of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer