Notre-Dame de la Garde, the guardian angel of Marseilles
What would Marseilles be without it? Local inhabitants commonly refer to it as la bonne mère (the good mother).Coming in Marseilles without seeing “Notre dame de la Garde” is a capital “deadly sin“, which deprives tourists of a sublime 360 degree panorama.
This basilica is the highest natural point in Marseille, being at 160 m; in this place there is a special atmosphere in this place, which touches all that come to admire this ornate Neo-Byzantine church. An example of this are the ex votos, which are gifts made by safely returned sailors and Christians’ veneration and everyone’s respect, whether Christian or not, believer or not.
In 1214, an inhabitant of Marseilles was allowed by the abbot of Saint Victor to erect a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Mother at the top of an uninhabited hill. This pilgrimage center lasted until the end of 14th century. But men make war, and the hill which dominates the port is too important as a strategic site for it to be left solely to piety. In 1525 the king of France, Francois I, had the famous If castle built on the little island that gave its name to it, as well as a fort on the top of the hill.
The fort built upon the orders of Francis Ist served to protect Marseilles from the armies of Emperor Charles V. It’s on this groundwork that the basilica was built in 1853 by Saint Charles Eugene de Mazenod and designed by the architect Jacques Henri Esperandieu.
In the 19th century so great is the enthusiasm that the sanctuary is too small to accommodate all pilgrims. A biggest basilica was built and its inauguration took place in 1864.
A sumptuous edifice
Cupolas, polychromy of stones, gold, mosaics, the basilica deserved the great constructions asked for by Napoleon III in Marseilles. The basilica is surmounted by a belfry topped with a huge statue of the Virgin and Child, visible from most parts of the city and from miles out at sea. The basilica required tons of material, including 23 shiploads of marble and porphyry from Italy.
Decorated with bronze doors, with a silver virgin, and one Annunciation, the basilica is admired for its artistic nature. Since the Renaissance, many of the walls have been covered with hundreds of ex-votos, including paintings, plaques, model boats, war medals. The belfry supports a monumental statue of the virgin created by the sculptor Lequesne.
It was executed in bronze, gilded with gold leaf. Between 2001 and 2007, the outside and the decor inside the church have been restored. This gave back its splendour to the mosaics and marbles inside the basilica, which pays respect to Cassis, Baruthel, Calissane and Golfiana Toscana ‘stones of the Major cathedral.
