The Sainte-Marthe church was erected in the 11th and 12th centuries1 in honor of Martha of Bethany, who came from Palestine with the Three Marys (or Holy Marys) and who tamed the Tarasque, an amphibian monster who terrorized the population of Tarascon.

It was consecrated on June 1, 1197, by Imbert d'Eyguières, archbishop of Arles, assisted by Rostaing de Marguerite, bishop of Avignon.

The church was rebuilt in the 14th century, remodeled in the 15th and 16th centuries, damaged in 1944 and restored.

The sanctuary, whose crypt contains the tomb of Saint Martha, was raised to the title of collegiate church in 1482.