Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume - Sainte-Marie-Madeleine

The "Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine" in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume (pop. ~ 14.000) is not only one of the largest but as well most important Gothic churches in of the Provence.

A small merovingien church existed here, until a sarcophagus was discovered inside the church´s crypt in 1279. The inscription made clear, that this was the tomb of Mary Magdalene. Actually it was known that her tomb was in Vezeley since the early 11th century. Numerous pilgrims had headed to that tomb since then and had made Vezelay Abbey to a major starting point for the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

The discovery of the tomb in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, a very clever "marketing" plus political patronage finally ended the pilgrim business in Vezelay.

Charles II of Anjou, King of Naples founded the Basilique Ste. Marie-Madeleine in 1295. The basilica had the blessing of Pope Boniface VIII, who had taken Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume´s side. He placed the basilica under the new order of Dominicans.

The works slowed down and continued until 1532, when it was decided to leave the basilica without a finished west front or portal or belltowers.