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 February 2026, 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 morning brings a guided exploration 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.
From Paris, the journey moves to the majestic Chartres Cathedral, celebrated 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.
Your path then leads 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 Oct 13 or 14, 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 TBD 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, we’ll make our way to Eglise Saint-Sulpice, one of the most historically rich churches in Paris. This remarkable site features the famous brass meridian line and an ancient sundial used to determine Easter and other sacred movable feast days. The church also carries symbolic links to the Merovingian bloodline and the Rose Line, traditionally associated with the sacred feminine and the lineage of Isis. Here, you’ll also see a rare depiction of Mary Magdalene with four children—one of the more unique portrayals in French church iconography.
We’ll stop for lunch (not included) before continuing to Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church, one of the oldest churches in Paris and a significant spiritual and cultural landmark. With its ancient stone columns, layered history, and deep resonance, the site invites reflection on centuries of devotion, transformation, and mystery.
After the tour, we head back to the hotel where the rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you please.
(Overnight in Paris at TBD or similar)
After breakfast, we’ll depart Paris and make the scenic 90-minute journey to the historic town of Chartres, a place long regarded as a center of pilgrimage and spiritual wisdom. Chartres is believed to sit on a network of ley lines connecting Glastonbury, Stonehenge, and the Great Pyramids of Egypt, contributing to its enduring sense of sacred resonance.
Our time here will focus on the world-renowned Chartres Cathedral, one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture and a site deeply associated with the Divine Feminine. The Cathedral is dedicated to the Divine Mother and filled with sacred geometry, intricate carvings, stained-glass windows, and artistic depictions of feminine archetypes.
During our guided visit, we’ll explore its ancient traditions—including the veneration of the Black Madonna, whose presence is honored both in the main sanctuary and in the crypt. We’ll also reflect on the legends linking Chartres to Mary Magdalene and pre-Christian goddess traditions, which continue to shape the Cathedral’s spiritual significance.
Afterward, we’ll enjoy lunch at a traditional French restaurant before taking time to wander the medieval quarter, where cobblestone streets, timbered façades, and centuries of history create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else.
Later in the afternoon, we’ll check into our hotel. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy.
(Overnight in Chartres at Grand Monarque Hotel & Spa or similar)
After breakfast, we will depart on our 90-minute 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.
At day’s end, we’ll transfer to our hotel for check-in and dinner at your leisure.
(Overnight in Vézelay at TBD or similar)
After breakfast, we’ll depart Chartres and begin our journey south toward the Alpine region, travelling approximately six hours with a relaxed lunch stop at a local bistro or country inn along the way.
In the afternoon, we’ll arrive at the Notre-Dame de la Salette Sanctuary, a deeply significant pilgrimage site set high in the mountains. It was here, on September 19, 1846, that two young shepherds—Maximin Giraud and Mélanie Calvat—reported an encounter with a radiant “Beautiful Lady,” weeping and surrounded in light. She shared a message of compassion, warning, and a call for humanity to return to the heart and motherhood of God. After years of careful discernment, Bishop Philibert de Bruillard of Grenoble formally recognized the apparition as authentic, and the site has welcomed pilgrims ever since.
Following our visit, we’ll continue to our hotel near Gap. This evening, we’ll share dinner together at the hotel’s restaurant.
(Overnight near Gap at Château des Herbeys or similar)
After breakfast, we’ll depart our hotel and begin our journey south toward Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, enjoying the changing landscape as we move toward Provence. The drive will take approximately three hours.
Upon arrival, we’ll gather for a group lunch at a traditional Provençal restaurant before beginning our visit to the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Basilica—the only large Gothic church in Provence and one of the most significant pilgrimage sites dedicated to Mary Magdalene.
The basilica is deeply connected to the rediscovery and formal recognition of Mary Magdalene’s presence in this region. While local tradition had long held that she lived and taught in Provence after the crucifixion, it wasn’t until the mid-13th century—when King Louis IX noted the absence of her relics—that formal investigations began. Excavations in 1279 beneath the oratory of Saint Maximin uncovered remains believed to be hers.
By 1281, the relics were officially recognized by Charles II, and with the support of Pope Boniface VIII, construction of the basilica began in 1295 to honor her. Today, the crypt houses the relics venerated as those of Saint Mary Magdalene, and pilgrims continue to visit seeking connection, devotion, and inspiration from her enduring spiritual presence.
After our time at the basilica, we’ll continue to Aix-en-Provence to check in at our hotel, where the remainder of the evening is yours to enjoy at leisure.
(Overnight in Aix-en-Provence at MGallery Grand Hôtel Roi René or similar)
This morning, lace up your walking shoes for our climb up Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume mountain. After approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes of driving, we’ll begin our ascent toward the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Cave, where tradition holds that Mary Magdalene spent her final years in prayer, silence, and contemplation. The cave can only be reached on foot and requires about a 90-minute hike through a historic pilgrim path once walked by saints, nobles, and spiritual seekers from across Europe.
According to legend, after the Ascension, Mary Magdalene fled persecution and eventually arrived on the shores near Marseille. Seeking solitude, she retreated into the Sainte-Baume mountains, where she lived for 30 years—sustained only by roots, water, and the presence of angels, who were said to visit her seven times a day. Near the end of her life, angels carried her to the Via Aurelia near Saint-Maximin, where her relics were later discovered and enshrined. Today, the cave—reached by a staircase of approximately 150 steps—remains an active place of devotion, and pilgrims continue to honor the relics housed here, with her skull preserved in the nearby basilica.
We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch together at the cave, with time for rest, reflection, and quiet contemplation before beginning the hike back to the bus.
The remainder of the afternoon and evening are at leisure back in Aix-en-Provence.
(Overnight in Aix-en-Provence at MGallery Grand Hôtel Roi René or similar)
This morning we’ll take a one-hour drive to visit Abbaye du Thoronet, which Andrew considers to be the most beautiful building in France. Al masterpiece of bare golden stone, beautifully illuminated by Romanesque windows that bathe its symmetrical design in the pure light of southern France.
From the stillness of the abbey, we continue deeper into Provence and make our way towards Cotignac, a village long cherished as a place of prayer, miracle, and healing. Nestled among vineyards and dramatic limestone cliffs, Cotignac holds a unique place in Christian history as the only location where the Holy Family appeared together.
We’ll stop for lunch at a traditional Provençal restaurant just outside this remarkable village.
After lunch, we’ll explore the story that has made Cotignac a place of pilgrimage for more than five centuries. On August 10, 1519, the Virgin Mary appeared to Jean de la Baume, a local woodcutter, accompanied by Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Bernard. She requested that a church be built in her honor, and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace soon became a revered spiritual destination. Among its most notable visitors was King Louis XIV, who travelled here in 1660 with his mother, Anne of Austria, to give thanks for his birth.
Later that same year, on June 7, Saint Joseph appeared on the nearby hillside to a young shepherd, guiding him to a spring. A chapel was eventually built on the site of the apparition and restored in 1977 when Benedictine sisters settled there. Today, both sites continue to draw thousands of pilgrims, especially during the annual procession on March 19.
We will then head back to Aix-en-Provence, where the remainder of the day is free for journaling and personal exploration.
(Overnight in Aix-en-Provence at MGallery Grand Hôtel Roi René or similar)
We will start our day with a 1.5 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 one of the places where legend says Mary Magdalene 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’ll then continue with a scenic 3-hour drive to our hotel in Carcassonne, arriving in the early evening. Take this time to settle in and nourish yourself with a quiet meal and some well-earned rest in preparation for the last few days of the journey.
(Overnight in Carcassonne at Mercure Carcassonne La Cité Hotel or similar)
Today you’ll visit the fortified town of Carcassonne—an extraordinary architectural landmark and one of Europe’s most iconic medieval sites. Often referred to as the “Cité,” this hilltop fortress rises above the Minervois vineyards and carries the spirit of over 2,500 years of history. Carcassonne is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Canal du Midi, designated in 1996, and the remarkably preserved Medieval City, recognized in 1997. Situated on the right bank of the Aude River, the citadel is unmatched in scale and preservation, its story shaped by centuries of conquest, Cathar resistance, and the Crusades.
You’ll have time to explore the city’s narrow lanes, imposing ramparts, and atmospheric squares. Lunch is at your discretion in one of the many cafés or restaurants tucked within the fortress walls.
In the afternoon we will embark on the 3 hour drive to our hotel in Rocamadour. The evening is open for rest, reflection, or further wandering as you wish.
(Overnight in Rocamadour at Grand Hôtel Beau Site or similar)
After breakfast, we will begin our tour of Rocamadour, a revered sanctuary perched high above the Alzou canyon. Famous for its miraculous Black Virgin, Rocamadour has drawn pilgrims for centuries and remains the second most visited sacred site in France after Mont-Saint-Michel. Considered one of the four great pilgrimage destinations of Christendom—alongside Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela—it is a place long associated with healing, devotion, and divine intercession.
Enjoy lunch on your own in the village, surrounded by its ancient chapels and timeworn stone paths, before continuing on to our hotel in Toulouse (2 hours).
In the evening, we’ll gather for a shared dinner at a local restaurant—a moment to reconnect and reflect on the sacred thread that has woven through our journey.
(Overnight in Toulouse at Grand Hotel de L'Opera or similar)
After enjoying breakfast you will check out from the hotel and transfer to the Toulouse airport for your onward flights.
(B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.
