Marseille, France

 

 Day 26 – Marseille, France  Friday, November 28

Tour - Historic Religious Sites of Marseille

Friends that had been to Marseille said if there was only one thing to see in Marseille, you have to see the Basilica at the top of the hill. so I booked the only tour that would take us there. After a drive through the city to reach the Basilica I knew I would never want to be a bus driver in Marsaille. Narrow streets and really tight turns.Upon arrival the imposing Notre Dame de la Garde is Both a fortress and a sanctuary, the basilica is a neo-Byzantine construction studded with beautiful mosaics and murals, built on top of a Romanesque crypt.   Located on a hill overlooking the Old Port and Frioul archipelago, this is the most visited site in Marseille and the site of a popular Assumption Day pilgrimage.

Driving through town, you see row after row of boats. This was after leaving the commercial port.  According to our guide, Marseille is the largest port on the Mediterranean stretching about 40 miles along the coast.


There is a small island off the coast with an imposing fortress on it. According to our guide after a visit to this fortress, Alexander Dumas got the inspiration to write The Count of Monte Cristo.



Far above the Basilica is the beautiful Golden Statue of the Blessed Mother, Protector of the city.



The view from the top of the hill was spectacular


The first thing that captures your eye when walking in is the ceilings. Beautifully adorned in gold. Pictures cannot capture how beautiful it really is.



The Soldier's Chapel with gifts and thank you messages for the protection of the Blessed Mother


The Alter

Looking up into the dome upon which the golden statue sits

Frioul archipelago, The chain of islands in the bay

Our guide said there were 324 steps from our bus to the Basilica

Driving to our second stop we got some great views of the old fortress

This fortress was once a Dominican Monestary then an abbey, now just a church restored to its former glory in the 1960s. In the abbey’s grounds, according to legend, the relics of the 14th-century Marseille martyr St. Victor are buried. The main church has sarcophagi, fine altars and stained glass windows.


Craving depicting St. Victor, a Roman Soldier who became a Christian and Martyred because he refused to worship the Emperor.


Interior of the Church of St. Victor


This is said to hold the relics of St. Victor


As you go down into the crypt there are many carvings on the walls


This sargophagus is said to depict Romans on the left coming to see Jesus in the Center and leaving on the right as Christians

Statues of St. Anthony and St. Theresa



Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 29, 2025 at 12:36 PM

    Great pictures, thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  2. Debbie T.November 29, 2025 at 11:34 PM

    OOOOOOOLALA!! You're in FRANCE now! GORGEOUS views of Marseille. Thanks for the beautiful photos of the Basilica and St. Victor's. They're stunning! The fortress on that small island reminded me of ALCATRAZ....I wonder if that's where CA got its "inspiration".... Looks like you're still getting very nice weather. Bon voyage!! Debbie

    ReplyDelete

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