The story of Notre-Dame de la Garde

The people of Marseille simply call her la Bonne Mère, the Good Mother. The basilica is the city's best-known symbol and its most visited site, standing on its highest natural point, a limestone outcrop 149 metres high south of the Old Port. The hill was long a lookout and a landmark for sailors.

In 1214 a priest, master Pierre, got permission to build a chapel to the Virgin here; sailors who survived shipwrecks later came to leave their thanks. The present basilica was begun in 1853 to plans by Henri-Jacques Espérandieu and was consecrated, still unfinished, on 5 June 1864. Below is a Romanesque crypt carved from the rock; above, a Neo-Byzantine church glowing with mosaics. On top of the 41-metre bell tower stands an 11.2-metre statue of the Madonna and Child in gilded copper.

During the restoration of 2001 to 2008, craftsmen repaired mosaics blackened by candle smoke and stonework hit by bullets during the Liberation – look for the marks. Then enjoy the view over the whole city.