Notre-Dame de la Garde (Marseille, France)

Notre-Dame de la Garde is a Catholic basilica in Marseille, France. Its official name means “Our Lady of the Guard”, but locals know it as la Bonne Mère (“the Good Mother”) because they regard the building as the guardian of the city. Tourists can find la Bonne Mère at the highest natural point in Marseille (154 m). Therefore, from the basilica, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of the city.

The view from the basilica

Note. Intorre, M., January 2, 2022.

In 1214, a French priest decided to build a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. After that, it became a church dedicated to Saint Gabriel. In 1850, Father Jean-Antoine Bernard asked the Ministry of War to authorise the expansion of the building – as a result of the cholera epidemic, it was a necessity to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims. Protestant architect Henri-Jacques Espérandieu made and developed the plans for the basilica. 

Construction work began in 1853 and ended in 1897. There used to be a funicular as well, but the city council decided to shut it down and demolish it in 1967.

The basilica consists of a Neo-Byzantine style upper church and a Romanesque style crypt.

The crypt is composed of a nave with low barrel vaults, bordered by six side chapels devoted to saints Philomena, Andrew, Rose, Henry, Louis and Benedict Labre. It also contains a statue of the Madonna holding a bouquet, the Vierge au Bouquet.

In the upper church tourists can see side chapels built exactly above the crypt’s ones. More than 1,200 m2 of Byzantine style mosaics decorate the church; the mosaics’ tesserae came from Venice. The architect personally selected the red and white columns and pilasters; he decided to use white marble from Carrara and red marble from Brignoles.

The mosaics

Note. Intorre, M., January 2, 2022.

Also important is the bell tower, which is 41 meters tall and supports a 11.2 meters tall statue of the Virgin Mary. On the bell tower there are also four statues carved by Eugène-Louis Lequesne.

The bell tower

   
Note. Intorre, M., January 2, 2022

Restoration work began in 2001 and ended in 2008. On the outside, reinforcements were fixed and new Golfolina stone replaced the old one. Interior work involved the repair of some stuccos and mosaics. 

Alongside the basilica, tourist can also choose to visit the museum.

To many it is the symbol of the city of Marseille.