ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is a little village in France that is very special because it is where some people believe that Mary Magdalene and other Christian Saints landed in a boat a long time ago. This is why it is called the "Saint Marys of the Sea."

It is a very old village with lots of history and stories to tell. People believe that Mary Magdalene came here because she was sad and wanted to be near the sea. She was one of Jesus' followers and she loved him very much. When he died, she was very upset but then she saw him again and was very happy. She wanted to tell everyone about this but some people didn't believe her. So, she left to go and be by the sea.

The village is very pretty and has lots of little streets that you can walk around. There is a big church called the Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer which is very beautiful and special. Outside the church, there are lots of shops and little places to eat. You can also see the sea from here and it is very blue and shiny.

Every year, there is a big festival in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer to celebrate the Saints. Lots of people come from all over the world to see it. They dress up in colourful clothes and dance in the streets. There are also lots of horses which are very important to the village. They have a special breed of horse called the "Camargue" which are white and grey and are very pretty.

In summary, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is a really special place in France with lots of history and stories about Mary Magdalene and the Saints. It is a pretty village with a big church and lots of little streets to explore. Every year, they have a big festival with dancing and horses.