Notre-Dame de la Garde
Notre-Dame de la Garde has stood as sentinel, watching over Marseille and the sea, for centuries. This basilica stands atop Marseille's highest point and is a testament to the city's deep-rooted maritime heritage.
The original chapel was built in 1214, as a small oratory on the hill, and then as a strategic lookout point. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it has always been a place of pilgrimage for sailors and fishermen seeking her protection.
This basilica has been and remains one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the south of France. She has been nicknamed "La Bonne Mère" (The Good Mother), who keeps watch over those who venture into the sea.
The current basilica was constructed in Neo Byzantine style circa 1860. It features the typical elements of that style: domes, mosaics and polychrome stonework.
Many climb the long set of steps leading up to the church seeking the view. It does not disappoint, fully panoramic - the sea unfolding to the horizon and the city around. The inside of this church is just as spectacular.
One steps inside and the alternating bands of red and white marble (Byzantine style) strike the eye. It is bold and breathtaking. Thousands of tiny tiles make up beautiful mosaic works - shimmering in hues of gold. In the apse, one of these mosaics depicts a ship sailing under the monogram of Mary. Birds and foliage surround the ship. The celestial guardianship of sailors is everywhere present here.
Suspended from the vaulted ceilings are mobiles of ships - models meticulously crafted and hanging in a line.
The walls of the basilica are lined with paintings depicting scenes of perilous sea journeys, storms, rescues...stories of survival and faith. There are also plaques in tribute to Mary representing various eras and times in history.
Notre-Dame de la Garde draws visitors based on their faith, their love of history, or their shared passion for the sea. La Bonne Mère stands as a beacon of hope for the people of Marseille. She is the symbol of the city - the capital of Provence.
