Andrew Harvey is an author, spiritual teacher, and founder of the Institute of Sacred Activism, dedicated to creating a new world founded in universal compassion and sacred passion for all life.
MOREJoin author, spiritual teacher and advocate for the divine feminine, Andrew Harvey on a journey to the sacred sites of Mary Magdalene and The Black Madonna in France.
On this journey, you will be guided through the sumptuous and varied landscape of France visiting potent and ancient sacred sites associated with the divine feminine. Through transmissions, group discussions and holy practices led by Andrew, discover the hidden history of Mary Magdalene, the significance of the Black Madonna, and an expanded vision of Christ Consciousness that integrates fully the embodied wisdom and passion for compassion and justice of the sacred feminine. From the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, to La Salette where the virgin appeared, to the UNESCO world heritage site of Basilica of Sainte Marie-Madeleine, to Rocamadour, our journey will delve deeply into the mysteries of the mother and of her radiant and radical embodiments, Mary and Mary Magdelene. READ MORE
Andrew Harvey is an author, spiritual teacher, and founder of the Institute of Sacred Activism, dedicated to creating a new world founded in universal compassion and sacred passion for all life.
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Tour Description
This journey is inspired by Andrew Harvey’s pioneering 40 years work on the divine feminine ~ the vision of mother he gave in his book, The Return of the Mother, the vision of Mary as Divine Mother he offered in his book Son of Man: The Mystical Path to Christ, and in his new book out in spring 2025, The Magdalene Revolution.
This sacred journey begins in the heart of Paris, where you will arrive and settle into your hotel, with time to explore nearby cultural gems such as the Orsay Museum or the bustling city center. In the evening, you will join your fellow travelers and meet your tour leader, Andrew Harvey, at a welcome dinner in a Parisian Bistro, setting the tone for a journey filled with spiritual discovery and deep reflection.
The following day, you will embark on a guided tour of Paris's most revered churches. We will start with the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, the place where the extraordinary apparitions of Mary began. You will witness the serene and mystical energy surrounding the incorrupt body of Catherine Labouré, who is believed to have created the Miraculous Medal at Mother Mary’s request. The journey continues to the grand Eglise de la Madeleine, where the striking statue of angels holding a pregnant Mary Magdalene and the mosaic of her kneeling before Christ evoke a powerful connection to the divine. The day concludes at Eglise Saint-Sulpice, with its profound historical and mystical significance. Saint Sulpice is the church where the greatest of all Marian mystics, Louis de Montfort, held his first mass as a young priest. We will visit and pray at his statue in the holy and serene chapel and to Mary as immaculate conception.
As the journey progresses, you will visit the majestic Chartres Cathedral, known for its sacred geometry and feminine symbolism. The energy and history of Chartres, long associated with the divine feminine, will be explored, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in this ancient spiritual center. From there, you will travel to Vézelay, a town rich in Christian heritage, where you will visit the Basilica of Sainte Marie-Madeleine where her relics have been worshipped since the 1200’s. This UNESCO-listed Romanesque Basilica, with its intricate sculptures and powerful spiritual presence, has been a pilgrimage site for centuries, drawing kings, emperors, and countless pilgrims.
The journey continues to La Salette-Fallavaux, where you will visit the Notre-Dame de la Salette sanctuary, a stark and sublime mountain site of profound Marian apparitions recognized by the Catholic Church. The pilgrimage will then take you into the glowing heart of the south of France, to Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, where you’ll explore the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Basilica, home to the relics of Saint Mary Magdalene, and the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Cave, where she spent her last 30 years in radiant and transfigured solitude.
As the pilgrimage draws to a close, you will visit the village of Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer, the site of where Mary Magdelene is said to have arrived in France, and the fortified town of Carcassonne, with its extraordinary medieval architecture and it’s deep association with the Cathars who kept Mary Magdalene’s memory intact. The final destination is Rocamadour, the most famous and powerful of all the sites of the Black Madonna and a place where miracles in her name have occurred over many centuries. This journey, rich in sacred sites, deep sacred sharing and tender and passionate spiritual reflection, will leave you with an indelible connection to the divine feminine in all her transformative power, and the timeless alchemy of pilgrimage.
Arrive in Paris. For those arriving Sep 30 or Oct 1, an arrival transfer will be included. Transfer to the hotel to drop off your luggage (if arriving before the check-in time of 3:00 pm). You can enjoy the afternoon at your leisure, perhaps visiting the Orsay Museum which is 800 meters away or wander around the city centre located a short 200m away.
Around 6:00 pm, meet Andrew Harvey, our local guide, and your fellow pilgrims for an introductory meeting, followed by a welcome dinner at a Parisian Bistro.
(Overnight in Paris at Hôtel du Danube Saint Germain or similar)
This morning, you’ll meet in the hotel lobby for a guided tour of Paris. Your first stop is the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, dedicated to French nun Catherine Labouré, a Marian visionary. The famous Miraculous Medal of our Lady of Graces, worn by millions is believed to have been created by her as requested by Mother Mary. Here, you'll see her incorrupt body near the main altar, in a chapel known for its warmth and blue energy.
Next, you’ll visit the Eglise de la Madeleine, a grand church with Roman-style columns, originally intended to honor Napoleon’s army. Inside, you'll find a striking statue of angels holding a pregnant Mary Magdalene and a mosaic of her kneeling before Christ with her alabaster jar.
After enjoying lunch at your leisure, the tour concludes at Eglise Saint-Sulpice, one of Paris's oldest churches. This church features a brass line linked to the Merovingian Kings' bloodline and the Rose-line, associated with fertility and the matriarchal lineage of Isis. Also in this church is a large sundial which runs north to south which is used to calculate the dates of Easter and other sacred days that change from year to year. You'll also see a unique statue of Mary Magdalene with four children.
We will then head back to the hotel where the rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you please.
(Overnight in Paris at Hôtel du Danube Saint Germain or similar)
After breakfast, we will make the 90-minute journey to Chartres, where the centuries-old energy of the Chartres Cathedral awaits us. Chartres is said to be on ley lines which link Glastonbury, Stonehenge and the Pyramids in Egypt. The Cathedral is dedicated to the Divine Mother as Mary and is filled with imagery, sacred geometry, carvings, stained-glass windows and sculptures of feminine figures. We will plunge into the energy and history of Chartres, long associated with the Divine Feminine from millennia before Christianity and with Mary Magdelene who is said to have visited Chartres with Joseph of Arimathea after the crucifixion. Special attention will be paid to the worship in Chartres of the Black Madonna, both in the statue in the main church and in the Madonna in the crypt.
After our visit we will wander the medieval quarter of Chartres and revel in a local lunch. We will then make the 90-minute journey to Orléans where you can enjoy dinner as you please and relax at the hotel in the seasonal, heated swimming pool or on the terrace overlooking the fishing ponds.
(Overnight in Orléans at L'Orée des Chênes, The Originals Relais or similar)
After breakfast, we will depart on our two and a half hour journey to Vézelay, a town rich in Christian history and home to a UNESCO-listed Romanesque basilica. The medieval town, with its hilltop location, stunning architecture, and superb natural light, has been a pilgrimage site for centuries, drawing thousands, including kings and emperors, to venerate the relics of Sainte Madeleine before embarking on the Way of St. James or various crusades.
In Vézelay, we will enjoy lunch together at a local restaurant before visiting the Basilica of Sainte Marie-Madeleine. Perched on the "eternal hill," this sublime Romanesque masterpiece is famous for its austere and noble architecture and for the thrilling naturalness and vitality of its sculptures. Take your time to explore and appreciate the basilica's carvings and otherworldly serenity.
(Overnight in Vézelay at Hotel de la Poste et du Lion d’Or or similar
We will enjoy breakfast at the hotel before departing for La Salette-Fallavaux around 6 hours away, with a stop along the way for lunch. Upon arrival, we will visit the Notre-Dame de la Salette sanctuary, erected on the bare mountain where on September 19, 1846, two shepherd children, Maximin Giraud and Mélanie Calvat, encountered a "Beautiful Lady" bathed in light and in tears. She entrusted them with a message of profound warning about the future and of the need for "all her people" to turn to the motherhood of God. After five years of rigorous investigation, Bishop Philibert de Bruillard of Grenoble officially recognized the authenticity of the apparition.
In the evening, we will make our way to the hotel and enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant.
(Overnight in Ancelle at Hôtel Restaurant & Spa Les Autanes or similar)
Today, you'll depart early for the 3-hour drive to Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume.
Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Basilica, which houses the relics of Saint Mary Magdalene and is the only large Gothic church in Provence, which in the 13th century was a separate state from France. Louis IX, after his return from the crusade in 1254, noted the lack of devotion to Mary Magdalene and the absence of her relics. In 1279, excavations uncovered her body, and by 1281, her relics were officially recognized by Charles II, who, with Pope Boniface VIII’s support, began building the basilica in 1295 to honor her.
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps discussing the journey so far with fellow pilgrims or enjoying the shared lounge, garden or sun terrace at the hotel.
(Overnight in Rousset at Hôtel Mount Venturi or similar)
This morning, lace up your walking shoes for a one-hour climb up Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume mountain. You'll visit the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Cave, where Saint Mary Magdalene spent her final years in solitude. The cave, now a sanctuary to some, can only be reached by a 45-minute hike and houses some of her relics.
According to legend, after the Ascension, Mary Magdalene fled persecution, eventually reaching Marseille. Seeking solitude, she lived in the Sainte Baume massif for 30 years, sustained by roots and water, and visited by angels seven times a day. Before her death, angels carried her to the Via Aurelia near the Saint Maximin shrine. The cave, accessible by a 150-step staircase, can hold up to 1,000 people. A part of her remains is housed here, with her skull displayed in the Basilica of Saint Maximin. We will enjoy a picnic lunch at the cave.
This afternoon, we’ll take a one-hour drive to visit Abbaye du Thoronet. For Andrew, it is the most beautiful building in France—a masterpiece of bare golden stone, beautifully illuminated by Romanesque windows that bathe its symmetrical design in the pure light of southern France.
(Overnight in Rousset at Hôtel Mount Venturi or similar)
Today we will return to the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Cave for rest and prayer, followed by a picnic lunch.
In the late afternoon, we will explore Aix-en-Provence, known for its fountains, architecture, and art. During your visit, you'll see the Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur, a national monument of France. Mary Magdalene traveled to Aix with Maximin, one of the seventy-two disciples, and they dedicated a chapel to Jesus Christ here, which is now part of the cathedral. The 1st-century chapel floor still remains, and the sacristy holds relics of St. Maximin and the foot of St. Andrew. The cathedral also features a beautiful stained glass window depicting Mary Magdalene and her jar. The rest of the day is open for journaling and exploration.
(Overnight in Rousset at Hôtel Mount Venturi or similar)
We will start our day with a 2.5 hour journey to Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer. This village, nestled between the Rhone and the Mediterranean, is rich in tradition and pilgrimage history. It’s said that Marie Jacobi, Marie Salomé, and their handmaid Sarah, persecuted Christians from Palestine, arrived here in a boat without a rudder. The village, with its protective church, offers a mix of history and emotion under an ever-changing light. This is also where Mary Magdalene, the Catholic saint, came ashore. Visitors can stroll through narrow streets and explore the Romanesque church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer, which has stood since the 9th century and dominates the town. Enjoy lunch at your leisure in this charming setting.
We will then make the 3 hour journey to our hotel in Carcassonne where you can relax and unwind.
(Overnight in Carcassonne at Hotel Le Donjon or similar)
Today you’ll be able to explore the fortified town of Carcassonne, an extraordinary architectural monument unique in Europe. Perched on a hill overlooking the Minervois vineyards, Carcassonne is steeped in 2,500 years of history and is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Canal du Midi, recognized in 1996, and the Medieval City in 1997. Situated on the right bank of the Aude, the Medieval City is a remarkably preserved fortress with a history shaped by 2,000 years of conquest, Catharism, and the Crusades.
(Overnight in Carcassonne at Hotel Le Donjon or similar)
After breakfast, we will depart for Rocamadour, (3.5 hours), a renowned sanctuary famous for its Black Virgin, which has drawn pilgrims and visitors for centuries. As France's second most visited site after Mont-Saint-Michel, Rocamadour is one of the four holy places of Christendom, alongside Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela, and is known as a place where miracles happen.
Enjoy lunch in Rocamadour before transferring to your hotel later in the day (1.45 hours). We will eat dinner together in the evening at a local restaurant where we will be able to reflect on our journey.
(Overnight in Montauban at Abbaye des Capucins Spa & Resort or similar)
After enjoying breakfast you will check out from the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight from Toulouse (45 min). If you chose to book your flight home from Bordeaux (2 hour drive), a transfer can be arranged for an additional cost.
(B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.
