Marseille Cathedral

About

Notre-Dame-de-la-Major Cathedral, known as La Major, is the seat of the Archbishop of Marseilles. It is sometimes called Sainte-Marie-Majeure, by the name of the sanctuary it welcomes in its midst. It was built in neo-Byzantine style between 1852 and 1893 on the plans of architect Léon Vaudoyer.

Located in the district of La Joliette in the 2nd arrondissement, it stands on the esplanade John Paul II, between the Old Port and the port of La Joliette, on the site of the old cathedral of the 12th century, from where comes the Provençal name of "major". Its architecture and interior decoration, marble and porphyry, give it a special appearance for a religious building. It was erected as a minor basilica by Leo XIII on January 24, 1896.