Marseille Cathedral

About this place

Marseille Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral and a national monument of France. Located in Marseille, it 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 newer one. It was built in the 12th century in a simple Romanesque style. 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, and these remaining parts are commonly referred to as the "Vieille Major". The composer Charles Desmazures was organist at the old cathedral. As you explore, compare the building itself with its decoration and later additions. Differences in materials, forms and imagery can reveal successive periods of patronage, making the visit a way to understand how religious places evolved over time.