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Top 10 Interesting Facts about Cath茅drale de La Major

An interesting fact about Cath茅drale de La Major is that it is as impressive inside as it is outside. Also known as Marseille Cathedral, it 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

The Cath茅drale de la Major was built in the mid-to late 19th century . Its unique Byzantine design reflects a period in time when Marseille port was “the gateway to the east.” Inside, you will find mosaics, statues and side chapels.

You should prioritise visiting because this imposing structure declares not so much spiritual glory as it does the past glory of Imperial France.  It dominates the surroundings declaring power forgotten but never outdone. The icing on the cake, admission is free!

This article looks at the top interesting facts about Cathedrale de la Major in Marseille, France.

1. Cath茅drale de La Major is one of  Marseille鈥檚 Landmark

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Marseille is the biggest port in France, and for centuries, ships from all over the world would pass by the cathedral’s majestic facade as they arrived at the harbour. Today, Marseille residents are drawn to the cathedral for prayer and contemplation. while tourists are attracted to its stunning interior and important religious relics. The building is affectionately known by locals as ‘La Major’.

For a long time isolated, The Major has now been rejoined by the MUCEM and the Villa Mediterrann茅e, new “cultural” doors upon the East.

One of Marseille鈥檚 key religious landmarks, the city鈥檚 cathedral (known locally as the Cath茅drale La Major stands just steps from the water鈥檚 edge. Built-in the 19th century, the neo-Byzantine church is distinctive for its striped facade and vibrant interior.

2. There were Demonstrations against the Demolition of La Major by Napoleon

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In the latter part of the 19th century Napoleon III, Emperor of France, decided to replace the 12th-century Provencal Romanesque cathedral. He had it demolished, all but the choir and one bay of the nave.

He spared the remnant when the outraged population demonstrated against the change. The new cathedral (“New Major”) is a massive Romanesque-Byzantine Revival structure. Towering over the waterfront, it is 469 feet long, and the main cupola is 231 feet high. It can hold up to some 3,000 worshippers.

It is located on the Plaza Major. The facade is formed of two different types of stone tile, giving the effect of horizontal bars of color. The locals were reminded of bedtime attire and they often refer to the cathedral as “the Pajamas”, no offense intended. The interior features Carrera marble, Tunisian onyx, and Venetian mosaics.

3. Cath茅drale de La Major is actually Made up of Two Cathedrals

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Also known as Cathedrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure de Marseille, it is actually two cathedrals, old and new. The remains of the old 12th-century cathedral huddle alongside La Major.  After Napoleon III‘s demolition order there is not a lot left of it.

During the Roman era, there was a temple dedicated to the goddess Diana at the site, followed by a baptistry in the 5th century. After an attack by Muslims in the 11th century, the church was rebuilt in a Romanesque style using pink stone from the La Couronne quarries.

Part of the earlier, much smaller cathedral still remains, alongside the new cathedral. 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. It is commonly referred to as the “Old Major”.

4.  Cath茅drale de La Major One of the Largest Cathedrals in France

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Cath茅drale La Major is one of the largest cathedrals in 19th-century Europe. Commanding magnificent views of Marseille’s port, the cathedral stands in the historic district of Le Panier.

The present cathedral, the “Nouvelle Major”, was built on an enormous scale in the Byzantine and Roman Revival styles. The first service was held in 1893.

The cathedral was completed in 1896, given the title of minor basilica and consecrated in 1897. It was built on the site used for the cathedrals of Marseille since the fifth century, principally by the architects L茅on Vaudoyer and Henri-Jacques Esp茅randieu.

It is one of the largest cathedrals in France and was listed as a monument since 1906. The dimensions of this Cathedral make it one of the largest and most majestic in the world: the total length of the Cathedral is 146m and the main dome is almost 70m high and 18m in diameter.

5.  Napoleon Laid the Foundation Stone of Cath茅drale de La Major

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The first stone of the present cathedral was laid by Napoleon III in 1852. As a statement of Marseille’s wealth and power, the building was designed with magnificent dimensions that can hold a congregation of up to 3,000 people. The luxurious materials that make up the distinctive striped walls include Italian marble, Tunisian onyx, porphyry, and local Cassis stone.

It was built over 40 years, between 1852 and 1893. The interior of several tall glass windows is the source of only natural light inside the church. There are countless collections, exquisite altars and the tomb of respected bishops in the 18th century.

6. Cath茅drale de La Major Byzentine Archtecture

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Its architecture uses a Romanesque-Byzantine style that imitates eastern churches, with a striped facade of different coloured stones and numerous ornate domes and cupolas.

The church is very characteristic in design, white marble and Florence greenstone, the whole church is like a zebra. Byzantine architects were eclectic, at first drawing heavily on Roman temple features.

Their combination of the basilica and symmetrical central-plan (circular or polygonal) religious structures resulted in the characteristic Byzantine Greek-cross-plan church, with a square central mass and four arms of equal length.

Byzantine architecture dominated the eastern half of the Roman Empire during the reign of Justinian the Great. The influences spanned centuries, from 330 until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and on into today’s church architecture.

The spectacular combination of Romanesque and Byzantine architecture, together with the impressive size of the cathedral, makes the visit to the cathedral a tremendous experience.

7. Cath茅drale de La Major was the only Cathedral  built in the 19^th Century

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Also known as the Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure, or 鈥淟a Major鈥� by the people of Marseille, La Major is the only cathedral built in the 19th century. Interestingly, no cathedral had been built for 200 years. The construction of the cathedral was therefore just as innovative as that of a railway station, for example.

At the dawn of the 19th century, the Marseilles star was bright. The city experienced very strong economic and demographic growth, and to cope with the explosion in trade, Marseille was adorned with industrial buildings and infrastructure.

The choice of location for the Cathedral was well thought out: near the new commercial port, moved from the 鈥榁ieux-Port鈥� to 鈥楲a Joliette鈥�. It is indeed here, at 鈥楲a Joliette鈥�, that ships arriving from all over the world would see from afar the power and beauty of Marseille. And this is the image they will take with them.

8.  Cath茅drale de La Major was designed by Architect L茅on Vaudoyer

The first stone of 鈥楲a Major鈥� was laid on September 26, 1852, by Louis-Napol茅on Bonaparte, on the plans of Leon Vaudoyer. It is considered to be one of the largest cathedrals built in this country since the Middle Ages.

Its dimensions are comparable to those of St Peter鈥檚 Basilica in Rome. According to the design of the time, it was worthy of the importance of being the second largest city and the leading port in France.

L茅on Vaudoyer died in 1872, so the construction of La Major was taken over by the architect Jacques Henri Esp茅randieu, who was in charge of the Notre-Dame de la Garde site and was a student and collaborator of the first architect.

Until his death in 1874, he was responsible for the installation of the frameworks and the construction of the domes. In 1874, Henri Antoine R茅voil was the new architect of the Cathedral. He was mainly responsible for the interior decoration of the Major.

9.  Cath茅drale de La Major is the seat of the Archbishop of Marseille

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On November 30, 1893, the Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure was completed. It was handed over to Monsignor Jean-Louis Robert shortly afterwards. It was erected as a minor basilica on January 24, 1896, by Pope L茅on XIII, and was consecrated on May 6, 1897.

The etymology of 鈥榯he seat of the bishop鈥� comes from 鈥渃athedra鈥�, the ancient Greek for a chair. There is an actual bishop鈥檚 chair or throne in the cathedral. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Marseille is a metropolitan archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France.

The Archepiscopal see is in the city of Marseille and the diocese comprises the arrondissement of Marseille, a subdivision of the department of Bouches-du-Rh么ne in the Region of Provence-Alpes-C么te d’Azur. The diocese was raised to the level of an Archdiocese on 31 January 1948 by Pope Pius XII. 

10.  Cath茅drale de La Major suffers from Shortage of Priests

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In recent times the Archdiocese of Marseille has suffered from a significant shortage of priests, despite having a reported Catholic population of over 700,000 not a single priest was ordained in 2018 or 2019.

In the years since World War II, there has been a substantial reduction in the number of priests per capita in the Catholic Church, a phenomenon considered by many to constitute a “shortage” in the number of priests. From 1980 to 2012, the ratio of Catholics per priest increased globally, with the number of Catholics per priest going from 1,895 to 3,126.

Practical Information

Cath茅drale La Major in Marseille

Location: Place de la Major, 13002 Marseille, France

Open: Tuesday鈥揝unday from 10 am to 7 pm (closed on Mondays)

Phone: +33 (0)4 91 90 52 87