The village was noted as "Ra" in the 4th century AD by the Roman
geographer Rufus Festus Avienus. In the 6th century, the archbishopric of Arles
was active and created a monastery or church in the town, named St. Mary, a favourite
of the fishermen. The village became known as Notre-Dame-de-Ratis (Our Lady of
the Boat - Râ being used in ratis, or boat) in reference to the
three Marys arriving by boat. (Droit, 1963, 19). The name was later changed to
Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer (Our Lady of the Sea, a synonym for the Virgin Mary)
