SOUTHERN FRANCE SACRED JOURNEY

Mary Magdalena – The Cathars – Nights Templar – Holy Grail – Celtic Goddess

June 16 – July 1, 2025


Intimate Group. Limited to 21 Rooms in Single or Double occupancy!

Highly experiential and comprehensive program with some of the most prominent and sacred sites of ancient Southern France, including ample opportunities for reflection, meditation and healing.
All high-quality Hotels, Travel, Comfort, Amenities and Food!

Join 1 or 2 or 3 Tours for a Soul Journey of a Lifetime!

PART 1 – Sanctuary of Sainte-Baume Tour – June 16-19, 2025
PART 2 – Main Tour – June 19-28, 2025
PART 3 – Lourdes Tour – June 28-July 1, 2025

With daily Channelled Meditations by group leader Elan Cohen
and outstanding tour guides Cameron Broughton & Glenn Broughton

ITINERARY – PART 1 – Sanctuary of Sainte-Baume (Mary Magdalene’s Cave) Tour – June 16-19, 2025

The Call

Are you drawn to spiritually connect with Mary Magdalene in a more personal way, and to hear more from our local guide about the mysteries of her life? Although maligned by the church for centuries as a sinner and prostitute, in earlier Gospels that are considered to be heretical, she was seen as the companion of Jesus, and a disciple of and spokeswoman for Jesus, and taught his ways to his disciples. Mary Magdalene has maintained a strong following, representing the divine feminine, the teacher, the healer and mystic.

We invite you to join us on a Pilgrimage to visit her cave, the Sanctuary of Sainte-Baume, where it is believed that she lived for the final years of her life. What better way to begin your journey to Southern France than to walk in her footsteps and immerse yourself in the energies of Mary Magdalene…?

The Journey

As we make our pilgrimage to the Grotto of Mary Magdalene, also known as the sanctuary of Sainte-Baume, and visit the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Maximin, we will immerse ourselves in the many mysteries and legends that have long been held and honoured in this magnificent village of St Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume. This will be a pilgrimage that will be with you for your life, as you connect to the spirit of Mary Magdalene.

You will have time to enjoy the local flavour of St Maximin, to have lunch at one of the many local cafes, enjoy their shops, and experience the hospitality of the people who live there.

DEPARTURE to France – Sunday June 15, 2025

Departures traveling from USA and other far away destinations
Depart for Marseille Provence Airport and arriving the next day. (D)

Day ONE: Monday June 16, 2025 – Arrival day


Your group leader Elan Cohen and guides Cameron & Glenn Broughton will meet you at Arrivals at Marseille airport, and your pilgrimage begins. Our first night we will be staying at an Airport Hotel, 500 metres from airport. You will have time to rest up and have a swim before we gather for our orientation meeting, to set the scene for our journey ahead.

Welcome dinner (included in tour price)

Overnight in Marseille, France (D)

Day TWO: Tuesday June 17, 2025


Following breakfast, our coach will take us to the Sanctuary of Sainte-Baume, the cave where it is believed Mary  Magdalene spent her last years. Our pilgrimage will commence with a hike to the site of Mary Magdalene’s cave, where our local guide will share their knowledge and allow us time to make our personal spiritual connection to Mary Magdalene. We will have lunch there.

At the end of the afternoon, we will transfer to our hotel in St. Maximin, the Hotel de France. Dinner at the hotel (included in tour price)

Overnight in St. Maximin, Hotel de France (BD)

Day THREE: Wednesday June 18, 2025


This morning we will have a guided tour of the town of Saint Maximin, visit Mary Magdalen’s Basilica, and learn about the tradition that holds the belief of Mary Magdalene’s presence in this land.

Tradition states that Mary, her brother Lazarus and Maximinus escaped from the Holy Land and landed at Saintes- Mairies-de-la-Mer in the Camargue region of Southern France.From there she went to Marseille, where she lived and taught local people and finally retired to the cave in Sainte-Baume.

Prior to the Basilica being built in 1295, it was a church dedicated to St. Maximin. The mystery deepens as in 1279 in Saint Maximin’s crypt a sarcophagus was discovered, which was believed to be the tomb of Mary Magdalene.

After our morning excursion you are free to have lunch and explore this beautiful village.

Overnight in St. Maximin, Hotel de France (BD)

Day FOUR: Thursday June 19, 2025


After a leisurely morning, we will depart the hotel for our Chateau Hotel in Couiza, to meet the rest of the group for the main tour. Our pre-tour pilgrimage concludes.

ITINERARY – PART 2 – Main Tour – June 19-28, 2025


The Call

We invite you to join us on a modern day magical Quest, in the Langeudoc region of Southern France, also known as Occitania. Surrounded by the natural beauty of mountain peaks, tree-clad valleys, rivers and springs, we will connect with the ancestors of this historic land. Immersed in the Spirit of Place we are effortlessly transformed, as we fall into the natural state of balance with the divine feminine and masculine aspects of our souls. Reaching for the light, we will come closer to our truest nature based in love…

The Journey

As we spend time on this land, we will open to the mysteries long held here. We will be inspired by local stories, and learn from the ancestors who walked before us. Mary Magdalene, the Knights Templar, the Wise Women, the Cathars and Black Madonnas will speak to us if we listen. The spiritual search that was central to the Arthurian Grail Quest is still alive today as whispers inside our hearts, and it will empower us on our journey from here through life.

On our quest, we’ll be visiting many powerful sacred sites set within the natural beauty of this land, and learn of its turbulent history. This journey with our knowledgable and sought-after local guide will take us to Notre Dame de Marseille, Alet-les-Bains, Rennes-le-Chateau, Montségur, Belesta, Cité de Carcassonne, Puilaurens Castle, Galamus, the Canallettes Caves, an ancient outdoor Celtic Temple, and of course the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, delving deeply into the history, legends, myths and mysteries of this region.

Your quest will be a synthesis of how the past and future lives on in us now, with time for both inner connection and with the extraordinary places we will visit. Be prepared for adventure and for deep nourishment.

DEPARTURE to France – Wednesday June 18, 2025

Departures traveling from USA and other far away destinations
Depart for Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport and arriving the next day. (D)

Day ONE: Thursday June 19, 2025 – Arrival day


Your guides, Cameron & Glenn Broughton and journey co-ordinator, Peter Van Deursen, will meet you at Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport and drive you to our beautiful medieval chateau hotel in Couiza. Whether you’ve just arrived or have joined us following your own travel in Europe, we will have the afternoon to rest or relax by the pool before we gather for an orientation meeting, opening and meditation with Elan Cohen and guides, introductions and welcome dinner.

Chateau Des Ducs de Joyeuse, Couiza France, a 16th century castle in the heart of the Cathar Country, in Occitania (a region of Southern France), near Carcassonne beside the River Aude. Its elegance remains, and the staff are superb. They have an outdoor swimming pool.

Overnight in Chateau Des Ducs de Joyeuse, Couiza France (D)

Day TWO: Friday June 20, 2025


This morning we will meet our Cathar-country guide, Aletheia. After introductions, our pilgrimage starts as we drive through the beautiful Aude Valley towards the old market town of Limoux, known for producing the predecessor of champagne. Just over the hill on the far side of town is a mysterious, large basilica called the Notre Dame de Marceille. As our journey commences, we will join in ceremony, connecting to the Spirit of Place, the Ancestors and the Magdalene Energy, asking for a blessing both individually and collectively for our Pilgrimage.

Here we learn of local legends hidden in its gorgeous artwork. Among the statues are a very beautiful and unique Mary Magdalene and a Black Madonna. Historians believe the basilica stands on the location of an old Roman temple dedicated to Mars, but the presence of two wells may indicate that it was actually dedicated to the Mother Goddess, like the very popular Roman goddess Diana or even Isis, the Egyptian goddess who became popular throughout the Roman empire in the 1st century AD. The basilica has many tales to tell… Alet-les-Bains, known as ‘the Chosen Place’ in Roman times, is one of the pearls on the Aude river. This beautiful town with its half-timbered houses is as old as the hills. Its protected location hides a true gem; the most beautiful ruined cathedral of Southern France! We will also find out why there is a Star of David (Solomon’s Seal) in the windows of the village church, and whether Nostradamus truly lived in this village in the 16th century.

Overnight in Chateau Des Ducs de Joyeuse, Couiza France (BLD)

Day THREE: Saturday June 21, 2025


Today we are going on a journey through time, because to understand the enigma of Rennes-le-Chateau we must first understand the history of the region. This tiny little hilltop village hides many secrets, including those of the Knights Templar and some not yet discovered. We will hear from our local guide about the history, the legends and the fiction, so that we are able to comprehend the elements that inspired authors (Holy Blood & Holy Grail) and film makers (‘The Da Vinci Code’).

We will visit the museum, the church dedicated to Mary Magdalene that is at the heart of the Rennes-le-Chateau mystery, the Magdala Tower, and we’ll also see the medieval castle that still stands at the heart of the village. Taking time to meditate in Mary Magdeline’s church, we reach for deeper understanding of the mysteries that surround Rennes-le-Chateau.

Overnight in Chateau Des Ducs de Joyeuse, Couiza France (BLD)

Day FOUR: Sunday June 22, 2025


From the top of the world to the Mary beneath the Earth! This day will take your breath away! For those willing and able to make the hike to the top of the Cathar castle of Montségur, you will be rewarded with panoramic views, and for those who choose not to make the hike you will instead discover the charms of the village that was created after the famous siege of 1244.

Today you will hear the story of the Gnostic Christian ‘Bon Hommes and Bonne Dames’ – the Cathars. This is a story of political and religious conflict in the 13th century. Stories of heroes and of betrayal, the outcome of which is still affecting us today, all set against the backdrop of beautiful mountain ranges and volcano peaks.

Which archetypes are playing out in your life and in our world? We send out healing prayers for all those who suffer and are in conflict, that resolution and peace might be woven into the fabric of a new reality…

In the ‘Valley of Love’ we find Belesta, with the Black Madonna who rests in the belly of the Earth, in a crypt beneath the chapel. Chapels like these are normally closed to the public, but every effort will be made to find the keeper of the keys, and if we succeed we will behold one of the most ancient Black Madonnas in France and Spain! Let’s all think positive for a successful outcome.

Overnight in Chateau Des Ducs de Joyeuse, Couiza France (BLD)

Day FIVE: Monday June 23, 2025


This morning we will discover the deep mysticism of the ancient order of the early Benedictines when we visit the Abbey of St Michel de Cuxa, at the foot of the Holy Canigou Mountain in the Pyrénées. We will be able to visit a very special crypt, where an ancient Notre Dame de Sous Terra (Our Lady Beneath the Earth) sits. There are several items in this church that are rare and a must see for those on The Path. It was considered to be a place of pilgrimage.

Following lunch in the fortified town of Villefranche de Conflent, we will visit the stunning ‘Underground Versaille’, the Canallettes Caves, just outside of Villefranche de Conflent. Having the opportunity to enter a sacred cave gives us the opportunity to experience a connection with Gaia in a meaningful way.

Overnight in Chateau Des Ducs de Joyeuse, Couiza France (BLD)

Day SIX: Tuesday June 24, 2025


A visit to Southern France will not be complete without seeing the azure-blue Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, today we will be driving to the most picturesque town of the entire Vermeille coast: Collioure. This ancient town already existed in the 6th century BCE as an important merchant harbour, famous for its arts and crafts, modern paintings and huge Templar Fortress.

We will visit its ancient and massive Templar Castle, built in 1207 and expanded over several centuries. We’ll visit the castle in the morning and then have free time to have lunch at a cafe by the Mediterranean Sea, explore this beautiful town and shop in the fun French boutiques.

Overnight in Chateau Des Ducs de Joyeuse, Couiza France (BLD)

Day SEVEN: Wednesday June 25, 2025


To dive into the origin of the Grail Quest we climb Puilaurens Castle in the morning. Built on the ruins of an old Roman Castrum, this castle is a perfect example of the strategic architecture that was also used at Montségur. The views from the top and from the early Gothic tower of *_Queen Blanche_*are breathtaking .

At Galamus we will visit a tiny hermit’s cave that has a wonderful surprise hidden inside. Not only is this an incredibly beautiful place, hanging on the edge of a cliff halfway up a gorge, its cave chapel also holds important messages if you have eyes to see them. This place is connected to the Franciscan monks who rebelled against the Roman Catholic Church’s persecution of the Cathars. In the 14th century, they were the last to hide scrolls that had been branded as heresy, but contained original texts and perhaps even the unedited original gospel of John and the original Lord’s Prayer. In honour of these brave Franciscan monks, Cameron will read and Elan will sing the Abwoon (original Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic) in the medieval Franciscan version, the oldest version known. In this special place of the Hermit and Monks we will take time to meditate, connecting with their unwavering faith and bravery.

Overnight in Chateau Des Ducs de Joyeuse, Couiza France (BLD)

Day EIGHT: Thursday June 26, 2025


We will spend today in nature and not just in any random spot. We will visit an ancient outdoor Celtic Temple, a truly holy place. We’ll hike to the Isis Chair, an old carved seat near a holy well, where Celtic priestesses or the wise women of the woods meditated. These women were asked for advice on many occasions, even by kings. The ancient trail we walk is unchanged except for the natural erosion.

“As we walk on this holy ground it will allow us to integrate all the lessons we’ve learned on this journey, empowered by the Earth energy currents beneath our feet. Balancing and cleansing our systems, we breathe in the land to be forever part of our bodies and minds, while we leave our footsteps behind in what the Jews, early Christians and Knights Templar called the New Holy Land. We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with our life questions as we ask the spirits of the Celtic Priestesses for clarity. Together we’ll have the final ceremony of our journey giving thanks for our Pilgrimage, for healing, for the spirits of the land & our ancestors, and for all that we’ve learned on our journey to Occitania.”

Overnight in Chateau Des Ducs de Joyeuse, Couiza France (BLD)

Day NINE: Friday June 27, 2025


Today we are traveling back 2000 years, while stepping forward into the present, to see the majestic medieval Cité de Carcassonne, where many movies have been shot. The Roman citadel Carcasso is still visible inside the medieval additions and repairs, forming stone layers like pages in a thick stone book. If only stones could speak…

This strategic fortified city with its 52 towers is the largest walled medieval city in Europe and is a World Heritage Site. We will browse through the stone book and discover the tales of brave knights, see the famous Siege Stone inside the Basilica St. Nazaire, discover hidden clues in glass windows and enjoy picture postcard views from the Porte d’Aude. There is also time for shopping to pick up a souvenir of this unique historical site.

Overnight in Chateau Des Ducs de Joyeuse, Couiza France (BLD)

Day TEN: Saturday June 28, 2025


This morning after breakfast you will depart for Toulouse-Blagnac Airport for your flight home or continue with us on to the Lourdes Tour

ITINERARY – PART 3 – Lourdes Tour – June 28-July 1, 2025

The Call

After your exploration into the mysteries of Mary Magdalene, the Knights Templars, the Wise Women, the Cathars and Black Madonnas, you may be called to continue on to Lourdes, a pilgrimage destination for thousands of people every year.

In 1858 in the Massabielle Grotto at Lourdes, a peasant girl named Bernadette Soubirous was met by the vision of a lady, who would visit her 17 more times. Bernadette’s healing and transformation from her interactions with Our Lady, Mother Mary were so apparent that even the most sceptical came to believe. Mother Mary was said to have created a holy spring that had not been apparent before, which still flows today.

Are you called for a personal healing, to imbibe the sacred holy water, to immerse yourself in the healing energies still present today. or as a devote of the divine feminine spirit and believer in miracles?

The Journey

As we make our pilgrimage to the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, we will open ourselves to the healing miracles offered to those who make the journey and have a mind open to transformation.

You will have time to enjoy Lourdes, which today remains an active pilgrimage site, to dine at one or more of the many local cafes, enjoy their shops and the hospitality of the people who live there.

DEPARTURE to France – Friday June 27, 2025


Departures traveling from USA and other far away destinations
Depart for Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport and arriving the next day. (D)

Day ONE: Saturday June 28, 2025 – Arrival day


Your group leaders, Elan Cohen and Cameron & Glenn Broughton, will travel with you by coach from Couiza to Lourdes, and your pilgrimage begins. Our beautiful hotel is centrally located, so everywhere in Lourdes is walkable.

You will have time to rest up and relax before we gather for our orientation meeting to set the scene for our time in Lourdes.

Welcome dinner (included in tour price)

Overnight in Lourdes (BD)

Day TWO: Sunday June 29, 2025


After breakfast we will have a guided tour of the historic centre of Lourdes, a market town in the Pyrenees, and part of the Occitania region in the Southwest of France. You will be enamoured by this beautiful town with its ancient Roman remains, its fountains, and other attractions that date from a time before it became a famous destination.

You will have the afternoon free to have lunch and explore the town on your own (Lunch not included in tour price)

Dinner at the hotel (included in tour price)

Overnight in Lourdes (BD)

Day THREE: Monday June 30, 2025


This morning we will have a guided tour of the Sanctuary of Lourdes, and visit the different basilicas surrounding the Grotto of Massabielle – the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Rosary Basilica, the Basilica of St. Pius X, and the grotto itself, where Bernadette had her visions.

After lunch (not included in tour price), you will have the afternoon free to make your personal pilgrimage to the Massabielle Grotto, to make your connection to Our Lady of Lourdes, to ask for your healing and blessing. You may of course use this time in any way that you’re called to do.

Farewell Dinner at Hotel (included in tour price)

Overnight in Lourdes (BD)

Day FOUR: Tuesday July 1, 2025


Depart to Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport for return flights home! (B)

Today we will take our private coach to Toulouse Airport, for your onward journey.

OUR HOTELS

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

  • Airfare from your country, and back to your country
  • Travel Insurance (Cancellation and Medical Insurance)
  • Visa and/or passport charges
  • Charges for personal services (i.e. laundry, drinks, telephone calls, personal clothing)
  • Extra meals not included in itinerary, sodas, juices and alcoholic drinks
  • Gratuities to waiters, hotel and restaurant staff – at your discretion
  • Any item that is not specified as being included

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