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Voykit pocket guide · France
Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume
Half a day for the basilica and a market, then move on: one night only if you want to hike the Sainte-Baume massif at dawn.
Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume is a pilgrimage town at the foot of the Sainte-Baume mountains, 40 km east of Aix-en-Provence. The Gothic Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene and the weekly market are the main draws; most travellers pass through in a few hours on the way to the coast or the Verdon Gorge.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, crowds)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €60–90 excl. bed · Mid €90–150 excl. bed · High €150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire and ambulance 18 · European emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | €2–3 |
| Market lunch (bread, cheese, fruit) | €8–12 |
| Bistro plat du jour | €14–20 |
| Glass of rosé | €4–6 |
| Parking in town centre | €1.50–2 per hour |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MRS · Marseille Provence
- About 1 h by car or bus via Aix-en-Provence
Typical fares
- Marseille → Saint-Maximin, Zou! bus 94
- about €5–8, 1 h 15 min (check)
- Aix-en-Provence → Saint-Maximin, Zou! bus 93/94
- about €3–5, 1 h (check)
- Taxi from Aix-en-Provence
- €50–70 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town centre is walkable. A car is needed for the Sainte-Baume massif trailheads and the cave.
See and do
Known for
- Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene
- Relics of Mary Magdalene
- Sainte-Baume massif hikes
- Provençal market
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Aix-en-Provence | Car via A8, about 30 min; bus Zou! 93/94, about 1 h | 30–60 min |
| Toulon | Car via A8/A57, about 1 h; bus Zou! 94 to Brignoles then train, about 1.5 h | 1–1.5 h |
| Saint-Tropez | Car via A8 and D25, about 1 h 15 min | 1.25 h |
| Porquerolles | Car to Hyères (about 1 h), then ferry | 1.5–2 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- Walk to the basilica and market; limited options, mostly small hotels and B&Bs.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-byen sa koot |
| Where is the basilica? | Où est la basilique ?oo ay la ba-zee-leek |
| I would like a table for two | Je voudrais une table pour deuxzhuh voo-dray ewn tah-bl poor duh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- Basilica closes for lunch (check current hours).
- Market is on Wednesday and Saturday mornings only.
- Hiking the massif requires sturdy shoes and water; no facilities on the trail.
Very safe; standard precautions against pickpocketing on market days. The main risk is heat in summer and the steep, rocky trail on the massif.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene
- Relics of Mary Magdalene
- Sainte-Baume massif hikes
- Provençal market
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Zou! regional bus network: itineraires-zou.maregionsud.fr/en/schedules/Zou%2520%21%2520Express/BUS/line/94/direction/OUTWARD/14573
- Wikivoyage: Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, revision 5322320 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5322320
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/saint-maximin-la-sainte-baume). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.