Sacred Journey to the Land of the Four Heresies.

Experience Mary Magdalene, the legends of the Holy Family, the Black Madonna, The Holy Grail, Cathars, Templars and the Troubadours!

Journey to mysterious France to experience a land rich in tradition with Kathleen McGowan author of The Expected One and Finbarr Ross. Kathleen is an internationally recognized expert and facilitator on Mary Magdalene and the Grail legends. Absorb the energies of this European culture and its ancient Celtic roots, where later Christian, Gnostic, Jewish, and Muslim traditions recognized the 'Feminine ethic' with equal enthusiasm. Although you journey within the 21st Century, you will find the threads of consciousness that predated Christianity still alive today. You will experience many wonderful power sites held sacred by those who have sought the Holy Grail and the presence of Mary Magdalene including: Rennes-le Chateau, Grotte de Baume, Maries de La Mer, Arles, Carcassonne, Montsequr, Albi, the mystical Languedoc and the stunningly beautiful Chartres Cathedral.

A highlight of our journey is the annual gypsy pilgrimage to the magical village of Saintes Maries de la Mer, set in the dramatic Camargue amidst herds of wild horses, black bulls and flocks of Flamingos.

May 20th - Day 1:
Depart from your home city for your flight to Marseille.

May 21st - Day 2:
Arrive Marseille in the morning, check into hotel at the airport to rest up before your sacred journey begins tomorrow. Optional afternoon tour of Marseille.

May 22nd - Day 3:
You begin this sacred journey as we depart Marseille Airport at 10 AM. First you visit St. Maximin Basilica to view the crypt and relics of Mary Magdalene.

Next you journey to the hills to the Grotte de La St Baume for a gentle ascent to approach the cave where the Magdalene is said to have passed the last years of her life and written her memoirs (referred to in Kathleen’s book as “The Arques Gospel”). This mountain was sacred to Isis and has been considered holy ground for thousands of years. The natural water that accumulates here is believed to have curative powers.

On to our Hotel in Arles for dinner and overnight.

May 23rd - Day 4:
Experience a walk around Arles, which contains wonderful monuments and remains of the highly developed Roman Empire. These were contemporaneous with the Grail family's arrival in this region, approximately 2004 years ago. We visit St. Trophimus church starting point of the journey to St. James in Compestillo. There was also a major Templar stronghold here.

Noon departure for Saintes Maries de La Mer to visit the church associated with arrival of the Grail Family from Palestine and to meet the most beautiful and powerful 'Black Madonna', revered by the Gypsies of Europe as St. Sarah.

May 24th/25th - Day 5/6:
Join in the unequaled atmosphere of the annual gypsy pilgrimage. Processions celebrate the arrival of the “Saint Mary’s of the Sea” as well as the gypsy patroness, Saint Sarah who landed here seeking refuge following the Crucifixion. It is a festival of International color, celebrating the spirit of great women who were spiritual pioneers and healers.

Free time to explore the unequalled and wild beauty of the Camargue region on your own or with others in the group. Take a boat excursion along the Mediterranean to see the wild horses and bulls in their natural environment and experience the path of the Saints as they would have arriving on the shores of Southern France.

May 26th - Day 7:
Departure for Carcassonne and spend the day exploring in the Old City of Carcassonne, a unique example of a fortified Medieval city. From 600BC Carcassonne was a major Celtic site and a commercial place of exchange for the Celts/Druids and the Phoenicians. Tonight we stay in Carcassonne.

May 27th - Day 8:
To the small, unchanged town of Minerve, place of Cathar burning where 150 'Parfaits' were burned as heretics on the feast day of Mary Magdelaine in 1210.

Return to our Hotel in Carcassonne.

May 28th - Day 9:
Today we have an early start for our day at Montsegur, Cathar citadel of last resistance. We also visit the local church and view the Black Madonna. During your journey at the appropriate time Kathleen will lead us in a Cathar prayer ceremony. Drive to our Chateau Hotel in Couiza.

May 29th - Day 10:
It is a short journey to Rennes le Chateau, ancient Celtic capital dating back to Neolithic times and former Visigoth capital of the region. Visit the Abbe Sauniere's Villa Bethania, Tour Magdala, the church and environs. Absorb the atmosphere of this ancient historical place and its symbology. Visit Mount Bugarach site of an ancient Essene community in the afternoon.

Return to our hotel in Couiza.

May 30th - Day 11:
You journey through the Black Mountains to Lastours - a steep climb to Cabaret, Surdespine and Quertinheux. In the first decade of the 12th century, Cabaret had become Languedoc [Languedoc’s foremost shrine in the pilgrimage of courtly love. We will lunch in the village.

In the afternoon we travel to Albi, whose cathedral was built to symbolize the Roman Church's power and victory over the 'Albigensian Heresy'. We visit the beautiful church of Saint Salvi. Tonight we stay in Albi.

May 31st - Day 12:
Today we journey to experience two Black Madonnas and Roman well at La Dreche, then onto the small, ancient site of St Julianne, sacred to the Celts and Druids, burial site of 11 Cathar women, ruined chapel of Catholicism and Protestantism.

In the afternoon we journey on to Paris arriving there early evening spending two nights in the Chartres Cathedral fellowship which includes private access to the Cathedral gardens for meditation.

June 1st - Day 13:
Today you experience Chartres Cathedral, with history dating back to the 4th century. It was erected during a time of religious peace brought about by the Emperor Constantine. Chartres is rich with mysterious sacred imagery and sacred geometry, and is said to hold clues to the secrets of the universe. It was established on a hilltop, where a sacred forest once stood and a well behind the cathedral was a miraculous source and sacred to the Druids.

The Cathedral today is one of mystery and majesty. It is a sacred place of architectural beauty, with its encrypted stained glass windows, alchemical associations, ancient crypt and unique silhouette above the landscape. The standout feature at Chartres is the labyrinth, installed into the Cathedral floor in the year 1200. Kathleen will teach the history of the labyrinth and address the path of enlightenment that is opened to us via the 11-circuit Chartres labyrinth specifically.

A highlight of our tour will be private time in Chartres Cathedral to walk the labyrinth using the principles from "The Book of Love" - the lost writings of Jesus - with Kathleen as your guide/facilitator.

June 2nd - Day 14:
Early risers may walk the labyrinth again as it is open to the public on Fridays, prior to our guided tour of the crypt at 11:00 am.

An early afternoon return to Paris where our hotel is splendidly located and in view of both the Louvre and the lovely River Seine. Optional walking tour with Kathleen through the picturesque Left Bank to the historic Church of San Sulpice in search of "The Magdalene Line."

June 3rd - Day 15:
Early risers may walk the labyrinth again as it is open to the public on Fridays, prior to our guided tour of the crypt at 11:00 am.

Option 1: You depart for the Paris Airport for our homeward journey and bid farewell to France, grateful for all we experienced on this sacred journey

Option 2: Today, for those who choose to stay another day Kathleen will lead a tour through the Louvre to view the paintings associated with Mary Magdalene and the Grail legends. Free time to explore this world famous museum on your own and/or shop its gallery stores or the adjacent "Carousel du Louvre" mall.

June 4th - Day 16:
You depart for the Paris Airport for our homeward journey and bid farewell to France, grateful for all we experienced on this sacred journey.

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