A regional heritage treasure to be preserved

The Grotte Sainte Marie-Madeleine is a sanctuary highly frequented by pilgrims and tourists throughout the year, especially during the Pentecost pilgrimage, which was relaunched in 2021 by the president of the Région. To ensure this high place of Christianity continues to shine, the Région has mobilized nearly €300,000 since 2021, notably enabling the securing of the site and the restoration of its stained glass windows.

SECURING THE CAVE "By relaunching the "Sur les pas de Marie-Madeleine" pilgrimage, we wanted to restore the prominent place of this sacred site by retracing the path traveled by this woman who lived alongside Christ and took refuge on our lands. Today, we are continuing our commitment to preserving this major historical and cultural heritage that is the Grotte Sainte Marie-Madeleine. To ensure this high place of Christianity continues to shine, so that pilgrims and tourists from all over the world can enjoy this exceptional heritage treasure, the Région Sud supported the securing of the site and the restoration of its exceptional stained glass windows," welcomed Renaud Muselier, president of the Région.

Securing the Grotte Sainte Marie-Madeleine is a major biological and archaeological challenge. Thus, the work to secure the cave site carried out in 2021 highlighted certain pathologies in the retaining walls of the stations of the cross and the entrance porch of the Grotte Sainte Marie-Madeleine, requiring urgent restoration work. Studies preceding the reinforcement and restoration work on the cliff and its surroundings notably revealed a breeding site for the Petit Rhinolophe, a protected species of community interest, as well as potentially medieval remains of the former inn.

Securing solutions respectful of this cultural and natural heritage were necessary to preserve the roost and the archaeological remains. Securing work on the retaining wall of the stations of the cross began, under the project management of the Parc naturel régional de la Sainte-Baume, in early November 2023 and was completed in mid-December 2023, allowing the cave to open for the end-of-year holidays, in keeping with the traditions surrounding this exceptional site. The Région supported this work to the tune of more than €155,000.

TECHNICAL CHALLENGE Restoring the cave's stained glass windows is also a technical challenge! Since their creation in 1983, the stained glass windows of the Grotte Sainte Marie-Madeleine have deteriorated due to atmospheric conditions: water infiltration along the walls, strong winds, rare sunlight due to a northern exposure, and lack of ventilation in the site—all conditions harmful to their preservation. Stained glass restoration work taking into account this specific environment and heritage constraints was initiated under the project management of the municipality of Plan d'Aups Sainte-Baume.

The Région, the sole financial partner in this restoration, supported this work to the tune of more than €56,000, representing 80% of the investments in this operation. To promote this remarkable cave, the Région provided support of more than €18,000 to the Association pour le Rayonnement de la Sainte-Baume, the assignee of the cave and project owner for maintenance work, electrical compliance, securing the basins, and also for relocating and protecting the reliquary of Marie-Made.