Brignoles and Sainte Baume

After Nice, we were undecided what to do next, the mistral was blowing, so we resolved to hunker down somewhere on the way to Aix en Provence, do an administrative day, plan, and try not to get blown away. We ended at Brignoles, a small town, staying at a welcoming Casino (supermercado) (same as we had stayed at in 2017) along with several other campeurs. We did the wash, reorganized, did some research and blogging, and also did a couple walks. After Brignoles, we decided we would take a look at the Massif of Sainte Baume, a big ridge and pilgrimage site nearby, famous because St. Mary Magdalene spent the last 33 years of her life here. Yeah sure.  Isn't interesting how just about all the apostles, et al., ended up in Europe? Sainte Baume, I presume was the "discovery" that knocked Vezelay off the Medieval pilgrimage sites itinerary (see http://roadeveron.blogspot.com/2013/09/vezelay-abbey-church-of-st-mary.html), safeguarding it for future generations, including ours.

Old Brignoles is a town of interesting murals...

New Brignoles has a Picard...

A Flunch, a LeClerc, an Intersport, and so much more; the
Flunch offer is pretty impressive

Part of the Sainte Baume massif

It was an interesting drive up a 1.5 lane mountain road to get this far, well below
the summit

It is said the angels carried Her every morning to the oratory on top to pray; note
cliff dwellings below

Thus

And thus; reminded me of Mesa Verde

The Hostellerie and resto in the valley below

Chapel

Helpful, etc.

Summit hike; not this day...

Vicki said don't miss the Calvary by the cliff dwellings...

Wait, there they are, center...

Further on, the Chapel of of Sainte Magdaleine

Well, not that old actually

Looking to more of Provence and another massif

A road warning prevented us from driving higher, so we headed on to Aix; here,
a sign hanging in a tree by a carpark...the giles jaunes have been here

Still processing this one