Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
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SaintesMariesDeLaMer-Streets.jpg
SaintesMariesDeLaMer-Streets.jpg
Narrow streets in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (lit. "Saints Mary of the Sea") is the main town of the Camargue in the south of France. It is a commune of the Bouches-du-Rhône département, by the Mediterranean Sea. Population: 2,230 (50,000+ during the summer holidays).
The two saints called Mary, Mary Salome and Mary Jacobe, whose relics are the focus of the devotions of pilgrims are believed to be two of the women who were the first witnesses to the empty tomb at the resurrection of Jesus.
It is a pilgrimage destination for Roma who gather yearly in the town for a religious festival in honor of Saint Sarah also known as Sara-la-Kali (Sara the black).
External links
- Tourism office website (http://www.saintes-maries.camargue.fr/) (mirror (http://www.saintesmariesdelamer.com/))
- Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer general info (http://www.beyond.fr/villages/stemariesmer.html)
- The Gypsy Pilgrimage at Les-Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (http://frenchpropertydigest.com/july2001/leisure-4.html)