Notre Dame de la Garde

If Berlin is symbolized by the Brandenburg Gate and Rome's distinguishing landmark is the Colosseum, then the emblem of Marseille has got to be the Notre Dame de la Garde basilica. It was consecrated in 1864 and towers above the old harbor. There is hardly a spot in Marseille from where it cannot be seen, yet in spite of having been to Marseille several times, I had never made the climb up tp the Bonne Mère, as the Marseillais affectionately call it.

I managed to remedy this on January 30, 2017, when I took a train from Cannes to Marseille just to see and photograph the basilica. It is a bit unusual in that it consists of a lower and upper church. The lower church is above ground, yet also called the crypt. Part of it is completely windowless and therefore very dark, though one section actually has a few stained glass windows. Sometimes, the lighting (just candles) was a bit challenging, to say the least.

The upper church is more conventional: a nave crossed by a transept. There are magnificent mosaics and the choir features a beautiful silver Madonna. Stepping outside, one has a wonderful view of vast parts of Marseille and of the Frioul archipelago. For more photos of this beautiful city, check out our May 6, 2015 and April 21, 2016 pages.

Click on any image to see a larger (2100 x 1400 pixel) version!

Notre Dame de la Garde seen from the boat from Frioul to Marseille, April 22, 2016


Ascending the steps to the basilica	View from the Montée de l'Oratoire	The statue of Virgin and Child


The basilica seen from the west	The Passion of Christ statue in front of the basilica


Looking north-northeast from the basilica	Zooming in on the Saint Charles railway station


The Frioul archipelago seen from the basilica	Looking across the old port to the commercial harbor


Inside Notre Dame de la Garde	A closer look


The silver Madonna	Looking up at the cupola of the transept	The front of the basilica


Zooming in on a detail	The middle one of the nave's three cupolas


The mosaic floor	Messages for the Madonna


Looking up at the ceiling of the nave	Zooming in on the menorah	The 11.2 meter (36.7 foot) gilded statue


The basilica from the west	The transept from the outside	Visitor


The lower church (crypt)	In the crypt


The Virgin with the Bouquet	Stained glass window


Candles in the lower church	Looking towards the Frioul archipelago


Looking down onto the Fort Saint-Jean with the MuCEM behind it	Looking towards the commercial harbor


Marseille rooftops	Above the drawbridge

Unless otherwise noted, the photos on this page were taken on January 30, 2017.

<< Previous

Trips Home

Next >>

This page was last modified on May 1, 2017
Send feedback about this page to feedback@kiechle.com
https://www.kiechle.com/trips/nddlg/index.htm
(optimized for Retina display)

All contents © 1999-2024 The Kiechles