Finding the Treasure

Grail Pilgrimage in the South of France

FBRT Geocosmological Pilgrimage led by Peter & Sarah Dawkins

9-17 June 2012

Puy de Dôme – Clermont Ferrand – Orcival – Saint-Nectaire – Saint-Saturnin – Le Puy en Velay – Avignon – Arles – Les-Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer

This 8/9-day geocosmological Grail pilgrimage to the South of France, led by Peter and Sarah Dawkins, is designed to follow and explore the Grail Line or spine of the Grail Kingdom from its sacral chakra in the volcanic mountains of Auvergne to its root chakra in the watery, sun-blessed Camargue on the south coast of France.

The Holy Grail is a vessel containing something sacred, a treasure of some kind – spiritual and material. The south of France is particularly associated with the Holy Grail, in terms of its history and legends, the beauty of its landscape and architecture, and the fact that it forms the base of the Grail Kingdom. It is said that Truth is the greatest treasure and that Truth lies at the bottom of the well. Moreover, Truth is not just an intellectual concept, it is an experience. In terms of the Grail Kingdom being the ‘well’, we will be delving right to the very bottom in search of this treasure.

The sacral chakra of the Grail Kingdom is centred upon the ancient holy mountain, Puy de Dôme, in the dramatically beautiful volcanic mountains of the Auvergne. This, the oldest, highest (1,465 m / 4,806 ft) and most prominent volcanic mountain in the northern part of the Auvergne Mountains, was one of the most important sanctuaries in Gaul, sacred to the Celts long before the Romans built their great temple and statue of Mercury on its summit in the 1st century AD on the site of a more ancient Gallic sanctuary to the god Lugh.

The root chakra of the Grail Kingdom has its primary land focus at Les-Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, the famous Gypsy pilgrimage centre located in the Camargue at the mouth of the Rhône, where the ‘Three Maries’ (Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome and Mary Jacobe) and the ‘Black Virgin’ Sara are reputed to have landed in 45 AD when fleeing the persecution of the Christians in the Holy Land.

The pilgrimage will visit these holy places and other special places around and between these chakra foci, such as the great cathedral of Clermont Ferrand, the famous ‘Madonna and Child’ (or ‘Black Madonna’) Romanesque churches at Orcival, Saint-Nectaire and Saint-Saturnin, and Le Puy en Velay, the spectacular starting point of one of the main pilgrimage paths leading to Santiago de Compostela and the major Madonna centre in France.

Then, in order to visit the southernmost area of France on the Grail Line, and the Camargue region located south of Arles between the two arms of the River Rhône delta (at the end of which lies Les-Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer), we will be staying at Avignon, the famous "City of Popes" and UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Travel will be by coach, with some moderate walking at each place visited. We shall be staying at hotels in Royat-Chamalieres, Le Puy en Velay and Avignon. A sea and river boat trip will complete the pilgrimage at the end. There will also be an opportunity to enjoy one of the volcanic Auvergne spas at the beginning of the pilgrimage.

Cost
Cost includes eight nights bed & breakfast hotel accommodation, six evening meals, private meeting rooms, coach transport (including pickup from and delivery to the nearest mainline rail station at the beginning and end of pilgrimage), boat trip, entrance fees, and all organisation, teaching, guidance and leadership. It does not include lunches and two evening meals, or transport to/from the event.

If booked before 1 March 2012:
£978 per person (shared accommodation)
£1185 per person (single accommodation)

If booked after 1 March 2012:
£1038 per person (shared accommodation)
£1245 per person (single accommodation)

Booking 
A non-returnable deposit of £150 is payable on booking, with the remainder due by 1 March 2012.
If booked after 1 March 2012, the full amount is payable on booking.

Please fill out and print out on-line Booking Form and send with cheque for due amount (made out to ‘FBRT’) to:

Sarah Dawkins, Old Rick Barn, Mill Lane, Shenington, Banbury, OX15 6NB, U.K.

The organisers reserve the right to refuse a booking if, in their opinion, it seems appropriate to do so.

Cancellations 
If, for any reason, you decide or need to cancel your booking after 1 March, we will endeavour to refund any monies paid (less the £150 non-returnable deposit), depending on whether or not your place can be taken by someone else. If this is a worry to you, we recommend that you take out insurance to cover against the possibility of such an unforeseen circumstance.

Accommodation
Sat-Tues nights:
Hotel le Chatel, 20 Avenue de la Vallee, 63130 Royat-Chamalieres,
http://www.hotel-le-chatel.com/             

Wed night:
All Seasons Le Puy En Velay
www.lepuy-hotels.com/all-seasons-lepuy 

Thu-Sat nights:
Bristol Hotel, Avignon, Provence 
www.bristol-avignon.com/uk 
http://www.bristol-avignon.com/

Further Information
Email: secretary@fbrt.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1295-678623

FBRT
Francis Bacon Research Trust: Registered Charity No: 280616
www.fbrt.org.uk