THE CAVE OF THE GROTTO AT ST. BAUME - THE CAVE OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE

The 3rd most holy shrine for Christianity after Christ in Jerusalem and St. Peters in Rome; The Cave of St. Mary Magdalene also known as 'The Rock of Mercy' is located in the heart of the Parc Natural Region of France. Inside a natural cave on the sheer cliff face of the Massif de la Ste. Baume is believed to be where St. Mary Magdalene spent her last 30 years of life. This atmospheric religious grotto is supported by many legends to support the theory that indeed this was Mary's place of prayer and worship followed by her hermetic isolation. There are archaeological discoveries to support the theory as well.

In 1925 Charles II conducted excavations in St. Maximum and this grotto which revealed Mary's tomb with her remains. This discovery supported what the Dominican friar Father Lacordaire believed in 1859 when he felt the importance to honor St. Mary and undertook the restoration and construction of Hostellerie de la St. Baume. Since that time the Dominican friars have worshiped in Mary's Grotto and in the adjoining small Dominican monastery. To this day all pilgrims are welcome in the footsteps of Mary Magdalene seven days a week with services and private prayer. Catholic Popes, Kings of France and pilgrims have hiked up the steep and many stepped pathway; Chemin des Roys to worship in the grotto. This geological curiosity with its 12 kilometers long rocky bar emerging from a seabed, forests surrounding and protected by a cliff has been a precious and sacred haven. Finbarr Ross on his Sacred Mystical Journeys through France, will escort the willing hiker to feel the inestimable presence of Mary Magdalene; The Apostle of the Apostles in the holy Cave of Grotto at St. Baume.