Cathedral of the Major Marseille
Discover the unique cathedral built in the nineteenth century! The "Cathedral de la Major" Roman-Byzantine style evokes the Orient.
The "Cathedral of the Major", also called "Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Majeure", is considered as the oldest cathedral in Marseille. It is divided into two parts: the "Old Major" which is a Romanesque church rebuilt in the 12th century and largely destroyed in 1852, and the "New Major" whose construction was completed in 1893.
The Major is Latin-cross shaped and its choir is bordered by a long ambulatory. Able to accommodate 3,000 people, the cathedral has a total length of 142 meters and the main dome rises at 70 meters, with a diameter of 17.70 meters!
His Romano-Byzantine style could be compared to Notre Dame de la Garde's whose construction began one year after the "New Major's" in 1853. Henri Espérandieu was the architect who participated in the construction of these two buildings classified as Historical Monuments.
If the outside of the Major is interesting to discover, it is the same for the inside with materials like porphyry and marble.
Cathedral of the Major - Marseille
Place de la Major
Phone: +33 4 91 90 52 87
Metro : Joliette line 2.