Montagne Sainte-Victoire

Montagne Sainte-Victoire (Provençal Occitan: Venturi / Santa Venturi according to classical orthography and Ventùri / Santo Ventùri according to Mistralian orthography) is a limestone mountain ridge in the south of France which extends over 18 km (11 mi) between the départements of Bouches-du-Rhône and Var.

At a height of 19 metres, this cross, although not placed at the highest point of the mountain, stands out from the ridge far more than the Pic des Mouches.

The mountain is celebrated for its many appearances in a series of paintings by Paul Cézanne (1839–1906), who could see it from near his house in nearby Aix-en-Provence.

[1] Originally called montagne de la Victoire, the mountain became known by Christians in the Middle Ages as Sainte-Venture.

[2] However, during the periods of free access, the Saint-Victoire massif is a popular destination for hiking, climbing, paragliding and, to a lesser extent, caving.

Map of Sainte-Victoire