Walks: Chapelle Saint Ser

Nestled in the steep rocks on the southeast side of Sainte-Victoire, the hermitage is located halfway up the famous mountain. This craggy place is accessible on foot, a half-hour walk from the D17 road. The site offers a splendid view of the wide valley of the Arc facing it.

It’s an easy well marked walk for the whole family, taking about 30 minutes from the Saint Ser Car Park up to the Chapelle. There are picnic tables when you arrive and a a super viewing platform to look over the whole valley. It’s a pretty spectacular walk and can sometimes be pretty busy on the weekends. We’d recommend going early in the mornings.

There is a walk that continues from the Chapelle up to the summit of the Peak des Mouches, but we’d recommend this for those with some hiking experience as there are two chain sections not for the faint of heart.

History

It is a small chapel built in homage to the character of Saint-Ser, a hermit who lived in this place in the 6th century. According to legend, in the 5th century, the hermit known then as SERVUS DEI (Servant of God) lived in a cave on the south face of the Sainte-Victoire, not far from Puyloubier. The Christians of the region came to pay homage to him, which irritated the King of the Visigoths, Euric, who had his ears cut off and had him beheaded. He was buried there.

Legend also has it that he had three daughters, Sainte-Consorce (called Sainte-Confosse), venerated at Jouques, Sainte-Victoire and Sainte-Perpétu, as can be seen from the panels painted in the 17th century in the chapel of Sainte-Victoire in Pertuis.

A pilgrimage has been organized there every year since the 14th century, and continues every Whit Monday, to commemorate his martyrdom and in remembrance of his talents as a healer against deafness. The tradition of his memory was passed on under the name of SAINT-SER and the chapel was built and consecrated by the Bishop of Aix-en-Provence in the year 1001.

In 1993, the chapel collapsed as a result of a rock fall; restoration work was undertaken and completed in 2001, and it was blessed again on the occasion of its millennium. This event attracted considerable public support, and was widely reported in the media and marked by the issue of a postage stamp.