Randonnée - Route de la Sainte-Baume

Dénivelée:  280m                                           Durée:  3h00

Today’s AVF Randonnée took us to the Estérel in the département of the Var for a climb through some ancient ruins on the way to La Grotte de la Sainte-Baume.  It is in this cave that Saint-Honorat lived as a hermit for some time in the 4^th century, in keeping with his vows of a calm and prayerful life in solitude.  It was after his stay in this cave that he moved on to the  Îles de Lérins to continue his solitary life, only to find himself constantly sought out for counsel and inspiration.  It was in this way that he first established a community of monks on the island, which developed into the holy Monastery of Lérins.

La Grotte de la Sainte-Baume

Each year the town of Saint-Raphaël organizes a Celebration of La Sainte-Baume.  The first Sunday of May, a traditional pilgrimage is made to La Grotte de la Sainte-Baume, where a mass is led in Provençale by the Saint-Raphaël parish priest, followed by lunch and dancing outside of the cave-cum-chapel.