description Marseille Cathedral Overview
Marseille Cathedral, officially known as Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure, is a Roman Catholic church located in the Quai du Port area of Marseille, France. Constructed between 1852 and 1896, the structure is an architectural landmark designed in a Romanesque-Byzantine style, utilizing alternating bands of green Florentine and white Calissan stone. It was built on the site of a 12th-century church, elements of which are still visible in the adjacent chapel. The cathedral serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Marseille and accommodates several thousand worshippers.
help Marseille Cathedral FAQ
Why does Marseille Cathedral have striped stonework?
La Major combines alternating pale and darker stone with marble and richly colored interior materials to create its distinctive striped appearance. Architect Léon Vaudoyer used a Romanesque-Byzantine vocabulary intended to reflect Marseille's Mediterranean identity.
When was the present Marseille Cathedral built?
The foundation stone was laid in 1852 under Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, and the main construction was completed in the early 1890s. It became a minor basilica in 1896 and was consecrated in 1897.
How large is Cathédrale de la Major?
The cathedral is approximately 142 meters long, with a central dome rising about 70 meters. Its scale makes it one of the largest French cathedrals constructed after the Middle Ages.
Is the old cathedral still beside La Major?
Yes. Parts of the medieval Vieille Major survive immediately beside the monumental 19th-century Nouvelle Major, although construction of the new cathedral removed part of the older building.
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