St Maximin la Ste Baume - Massif de la Sainte Baume

Beyond Nans-les-Pins road D80 leads up into the mountains. Some 8km/5mi along this road, where it is joined by the D95 (a second route from the Hostellerie de la Ste Baume, 1km/.5mi further), a footpath begins, which leads to the Ste Baume (Holy Grotto), an opening in the calcareous rock face which has been converted into a chapel (return journey one hour). Ste Mary Magdalene is supposed to have lived there and for many years it has been visited as a place of pilgrimage. On July 22 the saint's festival is celebrated with a midnight mass in the grotto.

The word "Sainte-Baume" is derived from the Provençal word for grotto, "baoumo". The forest has retained a primeval character, unusual for the region, as a result of its earlier being considered sacred and to this day it has not been exploited commercially. The shady environment with a damp, cool microclimate enables deciduous trees, such as limes, beeches and maples, and a dense undergrowth to flourish.