Every year more than 130.000 people visit this village. With its strange church, containing 96 anomalies of what is normal in a catholic church in the South of France. With its strange inscriptions, it’s curious Stations of the Cross and the famous statue of Asmodeus. And with its Villa Bethania and the Tour Magadala. But there is more to be seen in this area. The cave of Mary Magdalene, close by. The Fontaine des Amours, the Roche Tremblante, the Fauteuil du Diable and the hot springs in Rennes-les-Bains. And the natural spring, beautiful abbey and curious church in Alet-les-Bains. And the sacred Mountains, the Pech Cardou and the Pech Bugarach. All within of Rennes-le-Château. In the sacred area.
And then the Pays Cathare. The land between the Montaignes Noires, the Black Mountains, north of Carcassonne and the Pyrenees in the south. Bordered in the east by the Mediterrenean Sea and in the west by the cities of Toulouse and Foix. Full of those impressive Cathar castles like Montsegur, Peyrepertuse, Queribus, Puilaurens, Lastours and many others. With the magic initiation caves of the Cathars near Tarascon-sur-Ariege.
A region full of Mary Magdalene and Black Madonna’s. With magical caves like the cave of Niaux, the cave of Lombrives the Grotte de L’Aguzou, the Grotte de Limosis and the cave of Perillos. With beautiful churches, basilica’s, abbeys and chapels. Some of them built inside the rock, like the Rock church of Vals and the Hermitage in the Gorges the Galamus.
There is so much to be seen in his magic country. And I love to guide people around and show them all the sacred places. Places, which are often difficult to find. And tell them the stories of this region. Tell them about Mary Magdalene, about her teachings in the area. And about the Romans, Visigoths, Merovingian’s. And the Cathars and Knights Templar. And the Huguenots and French revolution that destroyed so much. And walk with them over the magic sentiers, the footpaths, like the sentier Cathare. Or take them out to some very good, typical French restaurants.
I can even take people further away. Following in the footsteps of Mary Magdalene. Visiting the basilica of St-Maximin-la-Ste-Baume, Aix-en-Provence, the cave of Ste-Baume and the Hotellerie at the foot of the cave. Marseille with the ND de la Garde and the basilica of St Victor. Les-Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer, and the peninsula of Maguelone near Montpellier. Or the cities of Tarascon-sur-Rhone, Beaucaire and St Gilles. And Narbonne, Carcassonne and Limoux. All with beautiful churches, basilica’s and Mary Magdalene. Or some magic places in the west, near Foix, in the church of St Volusien or the cave of Baulou. And in Pamiers and Toulouse in the famous ND de la Daurade. There is so much to be seen. And there are so many stories to be told.
All for 150, - euros a day, including my car, a Nissan X-trail, a four wheel drive, and me as the driver annex guide. I can take up to 4 passengers in my car. For larger groups we have to use more cars or rent a van.