The Parc Naturel Régional de la Sainte-Baume is a vast protected natural area covering 84,000 hectares across 28 communes in the Var and Bouches-du-Rhône departments. Created in 2017, the park preserves one of the most remarkable landscapes in southern Provence.

At its heart lies the Sainte-Baume massif, whose highest point reaches 1,148 metres. The mountain range forms the park’s backbone and is famous for its extraordinary ancient beech forest, recognised with the label “Forêt d’Exception.” This rare ecosystem, cool and shaded even during the hottest Provençal summers, creates a striking contrast with the dry Mediterranean landscapes surrounding it.

The massif is also deeply rooted in legend and history. According to tradition, Mary Magdalene spent the final years of her life in a cave high in the mountains, making the site an important pilgrimage destination for centuries. The trail leading to the Grotte de Sainte-Marie-Madeleine is still one of the most famous hikes in the region.

Today, the park offers countless opportunities for hiking, wildlife observation, and discovering traditional Provençal villages, all within a landscape that feels wild and timeless.

👉 Local tip: Even in summer, the beech forest on the north face of the Sainte-Baume stays cool and shaded. It’s one of the best places in Provence for a refreshing hike when the rest of the region is baking in the heat.