The Symbol of Marseille: Notre Dame de la Garde

Not to be confused with the local metro station, Notre Dame du Mont – it is actually very confusing because Notre Dame de la Garde is perched on top of a large hill, aka a “mont” in French. But today’s topic is the very famous and emblematic cathedrale Notre Dame de la Garde, and not a metro station…

We had decided to walk all the way up to the cathedral as a good way of getting some much-needed exercise in. It didn’t turn out to be *that* demanding of a walk as far as up-hill walks go, in fact, it was very pleasant indeed.

Apart from the bracing 10 degree cold, it was very nice all round! But we really needed warmer clothes than what we had on for those temperatures.

When you get up there, you can walk all around the cathedral for amazing views of the port, the city and the sea. Along with the incredibly detailed mosaics inside the basilica, the views were more than worth the time and energy expended to get there. All of the wiggly-windy streets, terracotta tiled rooftops and chimney pots really give a feel for the history of the city and how it’s existed for more than two thousand years. You wonder at all that the city has seen and at all the life that continues to teem far below, too small to see from your vantage point on top of the hill.

Then inside the basilica, you can marvel at how stunning and ornate it is. The walls are covered with paintings, while mosaics line both the ceiling and floors. As if that wasn’t enough, there are even miniature ships dangling from the ceiling! This is because of course Marseille is a port city, with trade and fishing being important aspects of its soul. Even though it’s right at the summit of a large hill, in times gone by, fishermen used to drag their boats up so that they could be blessed by the Virgin Mary. This is why the cathedral is so emblematic of Marseille.

All in all, this was an enjoyable afternoon out. We got plenty of walking, and were rewarded with awe-inspiring views, the chance to reflect on our place and the history of such an ancient city, and to take in what must be one of the most beautiful places of worship! This is a must-see for people who are planning on visiting Marseille.