Marseille Cathedral

Marseille Cathedral has been a basilica minor since 1896. It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Marseille.

Part of the earlier, much smaller cathedral still remains, alongside the new cathedral. It was built in the 12th century in a simple Romanesque style. The eclectic style is characteristic of the 19th century. Two bays of the nave were demolished in the 1850s, when the new cathedral was built. What remains is the choir and one bay of the nave. It is commonly referred to as the Vieille Major. The composer Charles Desmazures was organist at the old cathedral.

The present cathedral, the Nouvelle Major, was built on an enormous scale in the Byzantine and Roman Revival styles. The foundation stone was laid by Emperor Napoleon III in 1852 and the first service was held in 1893. It was completed in 1896, given the title of minor basilica, and consecrated in 1897. It was built on the site used for the cathedrals of Marseille since the fifth century, principally by the architects Léon Vaudoyer and Henri-Jacques Espérandieu. It is 142 meters long, and the main cupola is 70 meters high. With a capacity of 3,000 seats, it is one of the largest cathedrals in France. It is a listed monument since 1906.

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Place de la Major 1, Marseille, France

Details

Founded: 1852-1896
Category: Religious sites in France