Sainte-Baume Regional Nature Park, Regional nature park between Var and Bouches-du-Rhône, France.
Sainte-Baume Regional Nature Park is a protected area spanning two departments with landscapes that shift from mountain ridges to Mediterranean valleys below. The park features dense forests, open grasslands, rocky slopes, and a major grotto site that together create diverse terrain for visitors to explore.
The park received official protection status in December 2017, bringing together communities with deep roots in the area. Local farming and grazing practices that shaped these lands over centuries continue to play a role in how the park is managed today.
The grotto dedicated to Mary Magdalene has drawn pilgrims for centuries, and the small chapel near its entrance shows how meaningful this site remains for visitors seeking spiritual connection. The forest paths leading there are worn smooth by countless footsteps over generations.
A visitor center provides maps and information about trails suited to different abilities and time frames. Sturdy footwear and water are essential since routes wind through forests and across rocky terrain, especially during warmer months.
The forests here blend plant species from high mountains with Mediterranean types, creating an unusual mix found in few other places. This overlap allows animals like eagles and wild boar to coexist in the same territory.
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