Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (Saint Marys of the Sea) is the capital of the Camargue in the south of France. It is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department by the Mediterranean Sea. Its 2012 population was 2,495, though it can swell to 500,000 during the summer holidays. It covers the second-largest area of all communes in Metropolitan France, smaller only than that of neighbouring Arles.

The three saints Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome and Mary of Clopas are believed to be the women who were the first witnesses to the empty tomb at the resurrection of Jesus. After the Crucifixion of Jesus, the Marys were said to set sail from Alexandria, Egypt with their uncle Joseph of Arimathea. According to a longstanding French legend, they either sailed to or were cast adrift - arriving off the coast of what is now France, at "a sort of fortress named Oppidum-Râ". The location became known as "Our Lady of the Boat".- The name was later changed to Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer. In 1838, it was changed to Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.

However, the original name was Sainte-Marie-de-la-MER (singular). Only much-disputed Catholic legend has three Marys arriving here. So which of the three could have disembarked here, if any of them. Mary the mother of Jesus would have been extremely old by this time and would have been unlikely to have survived the sea voyage. Also, there is considerable evidence to prove that she was with the Apostle John in Ephesus and died there. There is no evidence (except an attempt to make up the number of three) for Salome making the journey.

There are, however, quite a few references to the preaching and teaching in the area by Mary Magdalene who was likely much younger than the other Marys. Catholic legend also states that she died in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume - just east of here. But there are a dozen other places claiming to be the last resting place of this godly woman, including places as far west as Rennes-le-Château, close to the Roman city of Tolossa (Toulouse) in Haute-Garonne. This would make more sense as she was a Roman citizen.

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