The Basilica of Our Lady of the Guard, or Notre-Dame de la Garde, is the most popular tourist attraction in Marseille.
Compared to the huge Marseille Cathedral, this temple is much smaller. However, you can easily see it from any part of the city because of its location on the top of a limestone mountain. The 41-meter square tower of the temple is crowned with an 11-meter golden statue of the Virgin Mary with a baby in her arms.
Locals cherishingly call it "la bonne mère" (The Good Mother). After all, it has long served as a lighthouse for ships in the port and protected the city.
The beautiful basilica was built in the neo-Byzantine style by the French architect Henri-Jacques Esperandieu. Two types of stone were used in its decoration: white tufa and green sandstone. Although the building is quite young (it was built in the middle of the 19th century), it stands on the old foundation, as the first fortified buildings appeared here in the 12th century.
During the French Revolution, the temple was closed, valuables were confiscated for the state, and the premises were used as a warehouse.
Today, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Guard is a functioning Catholic church. On major religious holidays, it gathers many believers and holds solemn processions.
The temple interior is striking. It includes the rich Byzantine decoration, vaults and arches lined with multicolored stone and gilding, beautiful stained glass windows that fill the basilica with sunlight, as well as Venetian mosaics and Roman patterns.
From the top of the hill, you can enjoy a beautiful panorama of the entire city and the Chateau d'If, as well as take great photos as a keepsake. You can also visit a restaurant and a religious-themed gift shop.
One of the easiest ways to get to the basilica is by bus number 60, which regularly departs from the Old Port. Besides, there is a special tourist train that will take you to the sight and provide information about the city.
The temple is open all year round, and admission is completely free. Previously, the top of the 164-meter mountain could be reached by funicular, but after almost 100 years, it was abolished at the end of the 20th century.