Cruising around and through Europe Part 15: A visit to Marseille France
Mar 17, 2024 10:29:30 #
We had a nice drive around Marseille and then some time to wandering before boarding the coach back to the ship.
Marseille is rich in historic treasures, nestled between the Mediterranean and rocky hills of limestone. Two 17th-century fortresses dominate the charming Vieux Port, or Old Port, the natural harbor that hosts all manner of watercraft, from sleek elegant yachts to old style fishing vessels. Its picturesque quay is one of the world’s most romantic walks, lined with dozens of cafés and shops. Also worth exploring is the city center, graced by La Canebière boulevard. Linger in a café and sample the city’s signature bouillabaisse made from freshly caught fish.
We drove past the Basilica Notre Dame de la Garde (photo 7) but were not able to visit it, however, here is some history:
In 1214 - the year of the Battle of Bouvines and the birth of King Saint Louis -, a priest from Marseille, named Pierre, had a small sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary built on the rocky triangle constituting the top of a 161m hill facing the city of Marseille, then very small. The hill being called “La Garde”, the sanctuary was quite naturally called Notre-Dame de la Garde .
In 1851, the Administrators of Notre-Dame de la Garde asked the Minister of War - without much hope of a positive response - for authorization to demolish the small chapel and replace it with a larger sanctuary topped with a high bell tower: like the chapel, this new sanctuary would also be located inside the fort. Despite the objections of certain officers who feared that the structure of the new sanctuary would harm the defensive value of the fort, the Minister's advisors issued a favorable opinion and he gave his agreement on February 5, 1852.
Those responsible for Notre-Dame de la Garde asked architects to draw up plans for the new sanctuary. They had to choose between two projects: a neo-Gothic style church and a neo-Romanesque style church. It was this second project that was selected. And, as the basilica was once decorated with Byzantine-inspired mosaics, it is generally said to be Romano-Byzantine.
The architect was Jacques Henri Espérandieu: he was only twenty-three years old at the time... and he was of the Protestant faith.
The first stone was laid on September 11, 1853 by the Bishop of Marseille, Mgr Eugène de Mazenod. The faithful made donations to finance the construction. But during the first years, money often ran out and, several times, work had to be interrupted. After eight years of construction, on the death of Bishop de Mazenod in 1861, the crypt had been dug into the rock, but of the upper church, only the side walls and the base of the bell tower were built. All that remained to be done was to build the vault of the nave, the dome and most of the bell tower. The successor of Bishop Patrice Cruice accelerated the work and, on June 4, 1864, the sanctuary could be consecrated, with an unfinished bell tower, by Cardinal Villecourt, a member of the Roman Curia surrounded by forty-one bishops. Construction of the bell tower continued. And, in 1866, the staff was able to be installed there, the size of which was now much better proportioned to the dimensions of the sanctuary, and the pedestal of the monumental statue began to be built.
On our way back to the ship, we passed by Cathédrale Basilique Sainte-Marie-Majeure (photo 8). Marseille Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure de Marseille or Cathédrale de la Major) 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 (formerly the Diocese of Marseille until its elevation in 1948).
As we were sailing away from Marseille, we passed by the Wonder of the Seas, which can embark 7 ½ times the passengers and is 5 times the tonnage of our ship, the Viking Sky that has a maximum capacity of 930 passengers. While we have only been on one other cruise (our Norway cruise in 2018 on Viking), we can’t imagine wanting to be on a very large ship. We originally booked our first cruise on a Princess ship with 2,600 passengers and decided that was too large, so we cancelled it and then found Viking, which fits us perfectly.
Next up: Monaco!
The previous post can be found at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-802231-1.html, while the first post of this series can be found at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-801137-1.html
Marseille is rich in historic treasures, nestled between the Mediterranean and rocky hills of limestone. Two 17th-century fortresses dominate the charming Vieux Port, or Old Port, the natural harbor that hosts all manner of watercraft, from sleek elegant yachts to old style fishing vessels. Its picturesque quay is one of the world’s most romantic walks, lined with dozens of cafés and shops. Also worth exploring is the city center, graced by La Canebière boulevard. Linger in a café and sample the city’s signature bouillabaisse made from freshly caught fish.
We drove past the Basilica Notre Dame de la Garde (photo 7) but were not able to visit it, however, here is some history:
In 1214 - the year of the Battle of Bouvines and the birth of King Saint Louis -, a priest from Marseille, named Pierre, had a small sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary built on the rocky triangle constituting the top of a 161m hill facing the city of Marseille, then very small. The hill being called “La Garde”, the sanctuary was quite naturally called Notre-Dame de la Garde .
In 1851, the Administrators of Notre-Dame de la Garde asked the Minister of War - without much hope of a positive response - for authorization to demolish the small chapel and replace it with a larger sanctuary topped with a high bell tower: like the chapel, this new sanctuary would also be located inside the fort. Despite the objections of certain officers who feared that the structure of the new sanctuary would harm the defensive value of the fort, the Minister's advisors issued a favorable opinion and he gave his agreement on February 5, 1852.
Those responsible for Notre-Dame de la Garde asked architects to draw up plans for the new sanctuary. They had to choose between two projects: a neo-Gothic style church and a neo-Romanesque style church. It was this second project that was selected. And, as the basilica was once decorated with Byzantine-inspired mosaics, it is generally said to be Romano-Byzantine.
The architect was Jacques Henri Espérandieu: he was only twenty-three years old at the time... and he was of the Protestant faith.
The first stone was laid on September 11, 1853 by the Bishop of Marseille, Mgr Eugène de Mazenod. The faithful made donations to finance the construction. But during the first years, money often ran out and, several times, work had to be interrupted. After eight years of construction, on the death of Bishop de Mazenod in 1861, the crypt had been dug into the rock, but of the upper church, only the side walls and the base of the bell tower were built. All that remained to be done was to build the vault of the nave, the dome and most of the bell tower. The successor of Bishop Patrice Cruice accelerated the work and, on June 4, 1864, the sanctuary could be consecrated, with an unfinished bell tower, by Cardinal Villecourt, a member of the Roman Curia surrounded by forty-one bishops. Construction of the bell tower continued. And, in 1866, the staff was able to be installed there, the size of which was now much better proportioned to the dimensions of the sanctuary, and the pedestal of the monumental statue began to be built.
On our way back to the ship, we passed by Cathédrale Basilique Sainte-Marie-Majeure (photo 8). Marseille Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure de Marseille or Cathédrale de la Major) 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 (formerly the Diocese of Marseille until its elevation in 1948).
As we were sailing away from Marseille, we passed by the Wonder of the Seas, which can embark 7 ½ times the passengers and is 5 times the tonnage of our ship, the Viking Sky that has a maximum capacity of 930 passengers. While we have only been on one other cruise (our Norway cruise in 2018 on Viking), we can’t imagine wanting to be on a very large ship. We originally booked our first cruise on a Princess ship with 2,600 passengers and decided that was too large, so we cancelled it and then found Viking, which fits us perfectly.
Next up: Monaco!
The previous post can be found at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-802231-1.html, while the first post of this series can be found at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-801137-1.html
Nearing the Marseille Harbor
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A wider view of the area of the previous photo
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Driving around the Marseille coast
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WW I Monument
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Basilica Notre Dame de la Garde
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Cathédrale Basilique Sainte-Marie-Majeure
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Wonder of the Seas
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Sailing toward Monaco
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Mar 17, 2024 10:34:58 #
Mar 17, 2024 11:43:29 #
Mar 17, 2024 12:19:32 #
Mar 17, 2024 12:53:06 #
Mar 17, 2024 12:53:34 #
Mar 17, 2024 12:54:29 #
NMGal wrote:
Enjoyable tour.
Thank you NMGal, I'm glad you are enjoying the tour.
Mar 17, 2024 14:54:20 #
Mar 17, 2024 18:28:02 #
srfmhg wrote:
Excellent set Dennis!
Thank you Mark, I appreciate your comment.
Mar 17, 2024 19:19:51 #
Mar 17, 2024 21:23:38 #
Mar 18, 2024 07:53:23 #
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Mar 18, 2024 11:06:59 #
Mar 18, 2024 11:09:51 #
Caribou wrote:
Nice. I really like #5 and 6
Thank you Caribou, I appreciate your comments. It was a beautiful drive around the coast of Marseille. I just posted my first set of Monaco at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-802431-1.html
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