The Church of the Saintes Maries de la Mer is a Romanesque

fortified church A fortified church is a church that is built to serve a defensive role in times of war. Such churches were specially designed to incorporate military features, such as thick walls, battlements, and embrasures. Others, such as the Ávila Cathedra ...

built in the 9th century in

Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (, lit.: "Saint Marys of the Sea"; Provençal Occitan: ''Li Santi Mario de la Mar'') is the capital of the Camargue ( Provençal Occitan ''Camarga'') in the south of France. It is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône dep ...

Camargue Camargue (, also , , ; oc, label= Provençal, Camarga) is a region of France located south of Arles, between the Mediterranean Sea and the two arms of the Rhône delta. The eastern arm is called the ''Grand Rhône''; the western one is the ''P ...

, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence. Dedicated to

Mary, mother of Jesus Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jews, Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Jose ...

and to

The Three Marys The Three Marys (also spelled Maries) are women mentioned in the canonical gospels' narratives of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, several of whom were, or have been considered by Christian tradition, to have been named Mary (the most co ...

, it is the subject of annual

Roma Roma or ROMA may refer to: Places Australia * Roma, Queensland, a town ** Roma Airport ** Roma Courthouse ** Electoral district of Roma, defunct ** Town of Roma, defunct town, now part of the Maranoa Regional Council *Roma Street, Brisbane, a ...

pilgrimage. Since 1840, it has been classified as a

French Historical Monument ''Monument historique'' () is a designation given to some national heritage sites in France. It may also refer to the state procedure in France by which National Heritage protection is extended to a building, a specific part of a building, a coll ...

Background

According to writer

Jean-Paul Clébert Jean-Paul Clébert (born 23 February 192621 September 2011) was a French writer. Biography Before completing his studies in a Jesuit college, Jean-Paul Clébert left to join the French Resistance in 1943 at the age of 16. After the liberati ...

, the Greek geographer and historian

Strabo Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...

wrote that the

Phocaea Phocaea or Phokaia (Ancient Greek: Φώκαια, ''Phókaia''; modern-day Foça in Turkey) was an ancient Ionia Ionia () was an ancient region on the western coast of Anatolia, to the south of present-day Izmir. It consisted of the northern ...

ns of

Massalia Massalia (Greek: Μασσαλία; Latin: Massilia; modern Marseille) was an ancient Greek colony founded ca. 600 BC on the Mediterranean coast of present-day France, east of the river Rhône, by Ionian Greek settlers from Phocaea, in Western An ...

(modern

Marseille Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...

) erected a temple to

Artemis In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Artemis (; grc-gre, Ἄρτεμις) is the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation, childbirth, care of children, and chastity. She was heavily identified wit ...

. The first mention of the town (then an

oppidum An ''oppidum'' (plural ''oppida'') is a large fortified Iron Age settlement or town. ''Oppida'' are primarily associated with the Celtic late La Tène culture, emerging during the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, spread across Europe, stretchi ...

) is made in the poem '' Ora Maritima'' (English:''The Sea Coast'') by

Avienius Postumius Rufius Festus Avienius (sometimes erroneously Avienus) was a Latin writer of the 4th century AD. He was a native of Volsinii in Etruria, from the distinguished family of the Rufii Festi. Avienius is not identical with the historian Fe ...

in the 4th century, under the name of an islet called "oppidum priscium Râ." In the 6th century, this oppidum was renamed, "Sancta Maria de Ratis" (English:Saint Mary of the Raft), a name which evolved into Notre-Dame-de-la-Barque when the

Christian legend A legendary ( la, legendarius) is a collection of saints' lives. The word derives from the Latin word , meaning 'things to be read'. The first legendaries were manuscripts written in the Middle Ages, including collections such as the South English l ...

of the landing of the Three Marys on the

coast became popular. This change was made from 547, with the installation of a community of nuns on this islet by

Caesarius of Arles Caesarius of Arles ( la, Caesarius Arelatensis; 468/470 27 August 542 AD), sometimes called "of Chalon" (''Cabillonensis'' or ''Cabellinensis'') from his birthplace Chalon-sur-Saône, was the foremost ecclesiastic of his generation in Merovingian ...

, the

Archbishop of Arles The former French Catholic Archbishopric of Arles had its episcopal see in the city of Arles, in southern France.Christianize Christianization ( or Christianisation) is to make Christian; to imbue with Christian principles; to become Christian. It can apply to the conversion of an individual, a practice, a place or a whole society. It began in the Roman Empire, conti ...

this place of pilgrimage and pagan worship to

Mithras Mithraism, also known as the Mithraic mysteries or the Cult of Mithras, was a Roman mystery religion centered on the god Mithras. Although inspired by Iranian worship of the Zoroastrian divinity (''yazata'') Mithra, the Roman Mithras is linke ...

and

. Vue aériene des Saintes Maries de la Mer.jpg, Aerial view of

Panoramic view of Stes-Marie-de-la-Mer from the Eastside at the Dike or Digue - panoramio.jpg, Panoramic view of Stes-Marie-de-la-Mer from the east Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer Ex Voto24 PM13000874.jpg, Tableau of the Three Marys File:Van Gogh - Blick auf Saites-Maries1.jpeg, ''Vue des

'', by

Vincent van Gogh Vincent Willem van Gogh (; 30 March 185329 July 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionism, Post-Impressionist painter who posthumously became one of the most famous and influential figures in Western art history. In a decade, he created about 2 ...

(1888,

Kröller-Müller Museum The Kröller-Müller Museum () is a national art museum and sculpture garden, located in the Hoge Veluwe National Park in Otterlo in the Netherlands. The museum, founded by art collector Helene Kröller-Müller within the extensive grounds of her ...

)

From Notre-Dame-de-la-Barque to Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer

The

sits in a prominent place and is visible from around . The church's

bell-gable The bell gable ( es, espadaña, french: clocher-mur, it, campanile a vela) is an architectural element crowning the upper end of the wall of church buildings, usually in lieu of a church tower. It consists of a gable end in stone, with small ho ...

has dominated the town since its construction in the beginning of the 9th century. It offered protection to the town during the period of transitions between the

Carolingian Empire The Carolingian Empire (800–888) was a large Frankish-dominated empire in western and central Europe during the Early Middle Ages. It was ruled by the Carolingian dynasty, which had ruled as kings of the Franks since 751 and as kings of the Lom ...

, the

Vikings Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...

and

Saracen upright 1.5, Late 15th-century German woodcut depicting Saracens Saracen ( ) was a term used in the early centuries, both in Greek and Latin writings, to refer to the people who lived in and near what was designated by the Romans as Arabia Pe ...

s,. and the founding of

feudalism Feudalism, also known as the feudal system, was the combination of the legal, economic, military, cultural and political customs that flourished in medieval Europe between the 9th and 15th centuries. Broadly defined, it was a way of structur ...

and its fortified churches and fortified castles to offer protection. The construction of the church spanned the transitions between

Carolingian architecture Carolingian architecture is the style of north European Pre-Romanesque architecture belonging to the period of the Carolingian Renaissance of the late 8th and 9th centuries, when the Carolingian dynasty dominated west European politics. It was ...

and

Romanesque architecture Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe characterized by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque style, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 11th century, this lat ...

in the Middle Ages. Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (30 Bouches-du-Rhône).JPG, Keep-apse-bell tower-wall Stes-Marie-de-la-Mer church totally restaurated at the outside - panoramio.jpg, Keep-apse-bell tower-wall Stes-Marie Eglise 03.jpg, Keep-apse-bell tower-wall and side view Stes Maries de la Mer église 9863.jpg, Roof and bell tower Notre Dame de la Mer 01.jpg, Side view, and steeple-wall Saintes Maries23.JPG, Facade and

corner tower Corner may refer to: People *Corner (surname) *House of Cornaro, a noble Venetian family (''Corner'' in Venetian dialect) Places *Corner, Alabama, a community in the United States *Corner Inlet, Victoria, Australia *Corner River, a tributary of ...

Entrée de l'église des Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.jpg, Entrance and croix camarguaise The site of Notre-Dame-de-la-Barque had been under constant threat from Saracens and Vikings, which forced the nuns to abandon it. It was not until 973 that the Saracens were driven out by Count

William I of Provence William I ( 950 – after 29 August 993), called the Liberator, was Count of Provence from 968 to his abdication. In 975 or 979, he took the title of ''marchio'' or margrave. He is often considered the founder of the county of Provence. He and his ...

, who had the church rebuilt (said to be in ruins again in 1061). It passed into the

mense A mense (from Latin ''mensa'', 'table') is the name of a form of ecclesiastical income in the Catholic Church. Historically, the mense was a land tax whose income was used as income for its holder (i.e. bishop, abbot, canons or monks, pastor, ...

of the metropolitan chapter of the

Church of St. Trophime The Church of St. Trophime (french: Cathédrale Saint-Trophime d'Arles) (''Trophimus'') is a Roman Catholic church and former cathedral located in the city of Arles, in the Bouches-du-Rhône Department of southern France. It was built between the ...

in Arles, then the canons returned it to the

Montmajour Abbey Montmajour Abbey, formally the Abbey of St. Peter in Montmajour (french: Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Montmajour), was a fortified Benedictine monastery built between the 10th and 18th centuries on what was originally an island five kilometers north ...

, which established a

priory A priory is a monastery of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or nuns (such as the Dominicans, Augustinians, Franciscans, and Carmelites), or monasteries of mon ...

there in 1078. It was then that it was dedicated to Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer. The reconstruction of the current fortified church took place between 1165 and 1170 (at the beginning of the 12th century in Gothic style, with architectural similarities with the 13th century Gothic Papal Palace in Avignon). Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer 20181009 18.jpg, View from the

Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ea ...

Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer01.jpg,

Nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer19 abside01.jpg,

Choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which ...

and

apse In architecture, an apse (plural apses; from Latin 'arch, vault' from Ancient Greek 'arch'; sometimes written apsis, plural apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an ''exedra''. In ...

Stes Maries de la Mer église 9875.jpg, View from the roof battlements The church was then divided into three parts, "savoir une nef, une chapelle assez allongée fermée sur le devant par une grille de fer, et sur les deux côtés et le fond par un mur de pierres de taille ; un chœur au centre, réservé aux clercs. On a accès à celui-ci par un long couloir formé par un mur latéral de ladite chapelle. (English: "namely a nave, a rather elongated chapel closed on the front by an iron gate, and on both sides and the bottom by a wall of freestone; a choir in the center, reserved for clerics. We have access to it by a long corridor formed by a side wall of the said chapel.)" In the 14th century, during the pontificate of the Popes of Avignon, the "Pilgrimage to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer" was popular. So much so that in 1343,

Benedict XII Pope Benedict XII ( la, Benedictus XII, french: Benoît XII; 1285 – 25 April 1342), born Jacques Fournier, was head of the Catholic Church from 30 December 1334 to his death in April 1342. He was the third Avignon pope. Benedict was a careful p ...

fixed the celebration of the Saints on May 25 and October 22.

Jean de Venette Jean de Venette, or Jean Fillons ( – ) was a French Carmelite friar, from Venette, Oise, who became the Prior of the Carmelite monastery in the Place Maubert, Paris, and was a Provincial Superior of France from 1341 to 1366. He is the a ...

, author of a poem on the "History of the Three Marys," says that he visited , bishop of Saint-Pol-de-Léon, then suffering from

gout Gout ( ) is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of a red, tender, hot and swollen joint, caused by deposition of monosodium urate monohydrate crystals. Pain typically comes on rapidly, reaching maximal intensit ...

, and that the latter was healing only through the intercession of the Three Marys. The bishop then made a pilgrimage to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in 1357. That same year,

Arnaud de Cervole Arnaud de Cervole, also ''de Cervolles'', ''de Cervolle'', ''Arnaut de Cervole'' or ''Arnold of Cervoles'' (''c.'' 1320 – 25 May 1366), known as l'Archiprêtre (The Archpriest), was a French mercenary soldier and Brigand of the Hundred Years War ...

, known as the Archpriest, headed for Avignon via the Camargue with his Anglo-Gascon bands. The relics contained in the church were sheltered at

Sainte-Baume The Sainte-Baume ( Provençal: ''Massís de la Santa Bauma'' according to classical orthography and ''La Santo Baumo'' according to mistralian orthography) is a mountain ridge spreading between the departments of Bouches-du-Rhône and Var in So ...

and Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer saw its fortifications reinforced.

Early church

Archaeological excavations have found that the structures of the church that preceded Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer was a rural chapel with a single nave. This place of worship was built in hard

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

. The nave of this primitive church consisted of three

bays A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight. A cove is a small, circular bay with a narr ...

which led to a choir closed by a semicircular

. It was flanked, to the north, by a square tower which was accessible by a staircase leading from the

choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which ...

. Two doors gave access to the church by the side facades. The first, in the North, was reserved for

clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

. It provided access to the cloister and the garden. The second opened into the third southern bay. This door was decorated by two lions of the Arles type which are currently repurposed on a 15th-century walled door. The apse was preceded by a

chancel In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may terminate in an apse. Ove ...

bay and a high

triumphal arch A triumphal arch is a free-standing monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road. In its simplest form a triumphal arch consists of two massive piers connected by an arch, crow ...

. File:Lion des Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.jpg,

Lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...

of the Arles type that belonged to the early church, 19th century engraving File:Croce camargue.JPG, Croix camarguaise File:Lions des Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.jpg, Lions from the early church in reuse on a 15th-century door

The excavations of King René

In 1448, many relics were found during the reign of

René of Anjou René of Anjou ( it, Renato; oc, Rainièr; ca, Renat; 1409–1480) was Duke of Anjou and Count of Provence from 1434 to 1480, who also reigned as King of Naples as René I from 1435 to 1442 (then deposed as the preceding dynasty was restored to ...

. The entire floor of the church was excavated, uncovering a well and a source of fresh water. In the choir, "une petite grotte renfermant des écuelles en terre, les unes entières, les autres brisées, et une certaine quantité de cendres avec des charbons noir (English: a small cave was uncovered containing earthen bowls, some whole, others broken, and a certain quantity of ashes with black coals). Finally, between this cave and the wall of the 12th century chapel, a vestige of the wall was revealed which spanned the entire choir. It opened with a small door giving access to an oratory. In it was a column supporting a marble table forming an altar. Two bodies "giving off a sweet smell" were also found, and were identified as

Mary Jacobe According to the Gospel of John, Mary of Clopas ( grc, Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Κλωπᾶ, ''María hē tou Clōpá'') was one of the women present at the crucifixion of Jesus and bringing supplies for his funeral. The expression ''Mary of Clop ...

and

Mary Salome In the New Testament, Salome was a follower of Jesus who appears briefly in the canonical gospels and in apocryphal writings. She is named by Mark as present at the crucifixion and as one of the Myrrhbearers, the women who found Jesus's empty ...

. The bones, washed with

white wine White wine is a wine that is Fermentation in winemaking, fermented without skin contact. The wine color, colour can be straw-yellow, yellow-green, or yellow-gold. It is produced by the alcoholic fermentation of the non-coloured Juice vesicles, ...

, were placed in reliquaries and transported to the upper chapel. At the end of the excavations, three

cippi A (plural: ''cippi''; "pointed pole") is a low, round or rectangular pedestal set up by the Ancient Romans for purposes such as a milestone or a boundary post. They were also used for somewhat differing purposes by the Etruscans and Carthaginians ...

were exhumed and were named, as was smooth piece of marble, "the pillows of the Saints." Still visible in the crypt of the church, the first two are dedicated to

Juno Juno commonly refers to: *Juno (mythology), the Roman goddess of marriage and queen of the gods *Juno (film), ''Juno'' (film), 2007 Juno may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional characters *Juno, in the film ''Jenny, Juno'' *Ju ...

and the third is a

taurobolium In the Roman Empire of the second to fourth centuries, ''taurobolium'' referred to practices involving the sacrifice of a bull, which after mid-second century became connected with the worship of the Great Mother of the Gods; though not previo ...

having been used for the worship of

suggests that the cult of the Three Marys (the ''Tremaie'') replaced an ancient cult given to the

Matres The Matres (Latin for "mothers") and Matronae (Latin for "matrons") were female deities venerated in Northwestern Europe, of whom relics are found dating from the first to the fifth century AD. They are depicted on votive offerings and altars th ...

, Celtic deities of fertility, and which had been Romanized under the name of Juno. The discovery of the relics attributed to the Three Marys was accompanied by the decision to venerate them three times a year, on May 25, for the feast of

, on October 22 for that of

and December 3. A procession to the sea, with the boat and the two saints, takes place in May and October.

Saint Sarah Saint Sarah, also known as Sara-la-Kâli ("Sara the Black", rom, Sara e Kali), is the patron saint of the Romani people. The center of her veneration is Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, a place of pilgrimage for Roma in the Camargue, in Southern Franc ...

is venerated on May 24. Jean-Paul Clébert points out that the statue of Sarah as well as that of Three Marys in their boat are headless and have a removable head. He notes, "Les "Mères", qui avaient pris tant de soins d'apporter en exil quatre têtes sacrées, semblent avoir perdu les leurs au cours des vicissitudes de leur histoire," (English:The "Mothers", who had taken so much care to bring four sacred heads into exile, seem to have lost theirs during the vicissitudes of their history)

The procession to the sea

Bain rituel gitan aux Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

, who was the first historian to study the

folklore Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging ...

of the

Three Marys The Three Marys (also spelled Maries) are women mentioned in the canonical gospels' narratives of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, several of whom were, or have been considered by Christian tradition, to have been named Mary (the most co ...

and

, notes the importance of the Roma

procession A procession is an organized body of people walking in a formal or ceremonial manner. History Processions have in all peoples and at all times been a natural form of public celebration, as forming an orderly and impressive ceremony. Religious ...

to the sea. Since 1936, the immersion of Sarah, the black saint, which the

Romani people The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sig ...

have done, precedes by one day that of the Marys in their boat. The statue of Sarah is submerged up to the waist. In the

, ritual immersion in the sea follows a centuries-old tradition. Already in the 17th century, the people went through the woods and vineyards to the beach, then several kilometers away from the church, and bowed on their knees in the sea. Benoit, to emphasize that these processions to the sea demonstrate Provençal culture and its respect of the Mediterranean since processions (linked to other saints) are found in

, and in

Fréjus Fréjus (; ) is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. In 2019, it had a population of 54,458. It neighbours Saint-Raphaël, effectively forming one urban agglomeration. The north of ...

Monaco Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Lig ...

Saint-Tropez , INSEE = 83119 , postal code = 83990 , image coat of arms = Blason ville fr Saint-Tropez-A (Var).svg , image flag=Flag of Saint-Tropez.svg Saint-Tropez (; oc, Sant Tropetz, ; ) is a commune in the Var department and the region of Provence-Al ...

and

Collioure Collioure (; ca, Cotlliure, ) is a commune in the southern French department of Pyrénées-Orientales. Geography The town of Collioure is on the Côte Vermeille (Vermilion Coast), in the canton of La Côte Vermeille and in the arrondissement ...

Current church

Exterior

The village was protected by its medieval ramparts until the

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...

. The site was one of the main components of the defense of the city of

Arles Arles (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Arle ; Classical la, Arelate) is a coastal city and commune in the South of France, a subprefecture in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the former province of ...

. In its center the church was fortified when needed. Its current appearance dates from the 14th century. The region regularly underwent raids by

Barbary pirates The Barbary pirates, or Barbary corsairs or Ottoman corsairs, were Muslim pirates and privateers who operated from North Africa, based primarily in the ports of Salé, Rabat, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli, Libya, Tripoli. This area was known i ...

, so at the beginning of its construction, the choice of a form of fortress was quickly taken, with a single nave, alternating

machicolation A machicolation (french: mâchicoulis) is a floor opening between the supporting corbels of a battlement, through which stones or other material, such as boiling water, hot sand, quicklime or boiling cooking oil, could be dropped on attackers at t ...

s, battlements and watchtower, overlooking the city from a height of .

The exterior apse

The military-style features often conceal the Romanesque construction. Only the polygonal

is visible from the outside. It is surmounted by an old guardhouse Surrounded by a bay of

centring Centring, centre, centering"Centering 2, Centring 2" def. 1. Whitney, William Dwight, and Benjamin E. Smith. ''The Century dictionary and cyclopedia''. vol. 2. New York: Century Co., 1901. p. 885., or center is a type of formwork: the temporary str ...

, its two small columns are surmounted by capitals dated to the beginning of the 13th century. It is decorated with

Lombard band A Lombard band is a decorative blind arcade, usually located on the exterior of building. It was frequently used during the Romanesque and Gothic periods of Western architecture. It resembles a frieze of arches. Lombard bands are believed to ha ...

s that alternate with

corbel In architecture, a corbel is a structural piece of stone, wood or metal jutting from a wall to carry a superincumbent weight, a type of bracket. A corbel is a solid piece of material in the wall, whereas a console is a piece applied to the s ...

The bell tower and the upper chapel

Overlooking the choir, and over the entire width of the church, the bell tower wall is topped by

s and indentations: four in a row, each holding a bell, a fifth above, totally empty. This wall ends by the guardhouse, which enhances the apse. The construction of the nave, in the 14th century and 15th century brought significant changes to the church. The most significant was the construction of a

wall walk A ''chemin de ronde'' ( French, "round path"' or "patrol path"; ), also called an allure, alure or, more prosaically, a wall-walk, is a raised protected walkway behind a castle battlement. In early fortifications, high castle walls were difficu ...

. Built in a

corbel arch A corbel arch (or corbeled / corbelled arch) is an arch-like construction method that uses the architectural technique of corbeling to span a space or void in a structure, such as an entranceway in a wall or as the span of a bridge. A corbel v ...

, it rests on consoles or

buttress A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall. Buttresses are fairly common on more ancient buildings, as a means of providing support to act against the lateral (s ...

es. A high chapel completes up the apse. Located above the choir, in the old

guardhouse A guardhouse (also known as a watch house, guard building, guard booth, guard shack, security booth, security building, or sentry building) is a building used to house personnel and security equipment. Guardhouses have historically been dormi ...

, it is dedicated to

Saint Michael Michael (; he, מִיכָאֵל, lit=Who is like El od, translit=Mīḵāʾēl; el, Μιχαήλ, translit=Mikhaḗl; la, Michahel; ar, ميخائيل ، مِيكَالَ ، ميكائيل, translit=Mīkāʾīl, Mīkāl, Mīkhāʾīl), also ...

the archangel. It contains the relics of the saints, locked in a chasse and is only brought out for the . Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it has been integrated into the defensive system of the church. It looks like a

keep A keep (from the Middle English ''kype'') is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word ''keep'', but usually consider it to refer to large towers in c ...

and also served as a lookout post.

Church bells

Saintes Maries de la Mer-Toiture et Clocher-PA00081456

The

has five bells: * ''Marie Jacobé-Marie Salomé'', cast in 1993 by the

Fonderie Paccard Fonderie Paccard is a French foundry in Annecy. Founded in 1796, the foundry has cast more than 120,000 bells located throughout the world. The foundry has been continuously operated by seven generations of the Paccard family. The largest bell ca ...

Annecy Annecy ( , ; frp, Èneci or ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France. It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy, south of Geneva, Switzerland. Nicknamed ...

, note: G * ''Claire'', cast in 1837 by Eugène Baudouin in

, note: A♯ * ''Rosa'', cast in 1839 by Eugène Baudouin in Marseille, note: C * ''Réconciliation'', cast in 1984 by the

, note: D * ''Fulcranne'', cast in Pierre Pierron in

Avignon Avignon (, ; ; oc, Avinhon, label=Provençal dialect, Provençal or , ; la, Avenio) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region of So ...

, note: D#

Interior

The

Romanesque style Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe characterized by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque style, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 11th century, this later ...

church consists of a

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

, four bays and a semi-circular

. The simplicity of the building stands out in its interior decoration. Only a

crypt A crypt (from Latin ''crypta'' "vault") is a stone chamber beneath the floor of a church or other building. It typically contains coffins, sarcophagi, or religious relics. Originally, crypts were typically found below the main apse of a chur ...

, dedicated to

and an "Upper Chapel," dedicated to

, in the old room of the guardhouse, complete the rectangular nave and the 'semicircular' apse.

Nave

The church has no side chapel and has little decoration, apart from a niche, on the left, with a representation of

Mary of Clopas According to the Gospel of John, Mary of Clopas ( grc, Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Κλωπᾶ, ''María hē tou Clōpá'') was one of the women present at the crucifixion of Jesus and bringing supplies for his funeral. The expression ''Mary of Clop ...

and

, in a boat. This single nave, in a broken cradle, is supported laterally only by full vaults, with

arch An arch is a vertical curved structure that spans an elevated space and may or may not support the weight above it, or in case of a horizontal arch like an arch dam, the hydrostatic pressure against it. Arches may be synonymous with vaul ...

es, contained in the wide thicknesses of the walls. The presence of a well, under the 17th century wooden Christ, harkens back to when the fortified church served as a shelter for the population during pirate invasions in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

. North side of the nave, close to the entrance portal, is also visible part of the original paving, as well as a holy water font, dug in an old capital. Among the rare decorations of the nave, there are two objects classified as historical artifacts since 1840: a

retable A retable is a structure or element placed either on or immediately behind and above the altar or communion table of a church. At the minimum it may be a simple shelf for candles behind an altar, but it can also be a large and elaborate structur ...

, in gilded wood, dating from the 17th century, and a painted altar canopy, on a dais, from the 16th century, representing the

Apostles An apostle (), in its literal sense, is an emissary, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (''apóstolos''), literally "one who is sent off", from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (''apostéllein''), "to send off". The purpose of such sending ...

and the Nativity. File:Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer05,chapelle Stes Jacobé & Salomé.jpg,

, in a boat and surrounded by votive offerings File:Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer19 abside01.jpg,

and

File:Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer01.jpg,

File:Les Maries acéphales gravure du XIXe.jpg,

and

, depicted as headless

martyrs A martyr (, ''mártys'', "witness", or , ''marturia'', stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external ...

in a 19th-century engraving.

Interior apse

The apse was built in the shape of a

semi-dome In architecture, a semi-dome (or half-dome) is a half dome that covers a semi-circular area in a building. Architecture Semi-domes are a common feature of apses in Ancient Roman and traditional church architecture, and in mosques and iwans in Isla ...

and has seven

blind arcade A blind arcade or blank arcade is an arcade (a series of arches) that has no actual openings and that is applied to the surface of a wall as a decorative element: i.e., the arches are not windows or openings but are part of the masonry face. It is ...

s supported by eight marble columns topped with historiated (or figured)

capitals Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

. They are subdivided into two groups. The first is made up of six capitals decorated with foliage, masks and human busts or devil's heads. Their style makes them similar to those of the north gallery of the . These sculptures were placed between 1160 and 1165. File:P1050627 Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer église chapiteau abside MH rwk.jpg, File:P1050629 Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer église chapiteau abside MH rwk.jpg, File:P1050631 Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer église chapiteau abside MH rwk.jpg, File:P1050632 Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer église chapiteau abside MH rwk.jpg, File:P1050633 Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer église chapiteau abside MH rwk.jpg, File:P1050634 Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer église chapiteau abside MH rwk.jpg, The second group has only two capitals. These are considered major masterpieces of . The first represents the ''

Incarnation of Christ In Christian theology, the incarnation is the belief that the pre-existent divine person of Jesus Christ, God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, and the eternally begotten ''Logos'' (Koine Greek for "word"), took upon human nature and " ...

'', the second the ''

Passion of Christ In Christianity, the Passion (from the Latin verb ''patior, passus sum''; "to suffer, bear, endure", from which also "patience, patient", etc.) is the short final period in the life of Jesus Christ. Depending on one's views, the "Passion" m ...

''. Dated from the same period as the older ones, their style relates to those of the frieze of the Cathedral of Nîmes. Saintes Maries de la Mer-Bénitier.jpg,

Holy water font A holy water font or stoup is a vessel containing holy water which is generally placed near the entrance of a church. It is often placed at the base of a crucifix or religious representation. It is used in the Catholic Church, Anglican Churches ...

carved in an old capital P1050630 Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer église chapiteau abside MH rwk.jpg,

P1050628 Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer église chapiteau abside MH rwk.jpg,

Passion of Jesus In Christianity, the Passion (from the Latin verb ''patior, passus sum''; "to suffer, bear, endure", from which also "patience, patient", etc.) is the short final period in the life of Jesus Christ. Depending on one's views, the "Passion" m ...

The ''Mystery of the Incarnation'' stages on one side the theme of the ''Visitation'' and on the other the appearance of the Archangel

Gabriel In Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), Gabriel (); Greek: grc, Γαβριήλ, translit=Gabriḗl, label=none; Latin: ''Gabriel''; Coptic: cop, Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ, translit=Gabriêl, label=none; Amharic: am, ገብር� ...

to Zechariah. The ''Passion of Christ'', meanwhile, is evoked in the form of the '' Sacrifice of Abraham''.

The crypt

The crypt is located under the church

, and can be accessed from the

transept A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform ("cross-shaped") building withi ...

. The crypt is dedicated to

, who is represented by a clothed statue, and has its own altar, and many

ex-voto An ex-voto is a votive offering to a saint or to a divinity; the term is usually restricted to Christian examples. It is given in fulfillment of a vow (hence the Latin term, short for ''ex voto suscepto'', "from the vow made") or in gratitude o ...

s. In 1448, the crypt was dug at the direction of

, then in search of the relics of the "Three Marys." A perfectly smooth block of marble, the "Pillow of the Three Marys," was also discovered during this excavation. Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer39,crypte issue extérieure.jpg, Crypt entrance Sara et ses cierges dans la crypte de ND de la Mer.jpg, Saint Sarah Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Sarah.jpg, Saint Sarah La cappelletta della patrona nella chiesa - panoramio.jpg,

Altar An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, churches, and other places of worship. They are used particularly in paga ...

in the crypt Oreiller des Saintes.jpg, Pillow of the Three Marys

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * *

External links

Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer sur le site petit-patrimoine.com
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Church of the Saintes Maries de la Mer Monuments and memorials in France Camargue 1840 establishments in France Fortified church buildings in France

Romanesque architecture in Provence Romani religion Romani culture Romani in France The Three Marys