THE HOLY GRAVE
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A "Holy Tomb" shrouded in mystery and ancestral beliefs, home to a magical spring that fascinates visitors.
Situated on the square in front of the abbey, the "Sainte Tombe", the only vestige of the early-Christian sanctuary on the site of the Roman thermal baths of Arles, attracts crowds for its source, which is imagined to be magical. It is surrounded by an aura of mystery and ancestral beliefs... It is said that this tomb housed the relics of the patron saints of Arles, Abdon and Sennen. But these relics are said to have suddenly disappeared. The tomb consists of a 4th century sarcophagus made of bluish white marble from Céret, above which is embedded the bed of William of Gaucelme, Lord of Tellet, who was buried in 1211. The austerity of the ensemble and the disturbing environment certainly played a role in popular beliefs in paranormal phenomena. This tomb produces about 250 litres of water a year, without being fed by any source, it is believed. Thus daily, it emanates from the inside of the sarcophagus nearly a litre of water reputed to be pure, which is believed to have miraculous and healing virtues. The water can be drawn through a hole located on one side of the sarcophaque. Even if a sign indicates that "the Holy Tomb has not delivered its mystery", this strangeness has nevertheless been explained. It is in fact the result of the penetration and then condensation of rainwater in the sarcophagus made of rather permeable marble. The water is now distributed to the faithful on the feast of Saints Abdon and Sennen on July 30. The sarcophagus has been listed in the inventory of historical monuments since 1892.
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