Marseille, FR

Old Major

The Old Major was built from the 11th century on the site of a first church dating from the 5th century. The cathedral, of Provençal Romanesque style, then had a bell tower added in the 14th century. The destruction of the old cathedral of the Major was decided in 1852, to allow the construction of the new cathedral Sainte-Marie-Majeure in Marseille. The old cathedral only owes its rescue to the intervention of the French Archaeological Society, which blocked its destruction in 1853. Having become a parish church, it remained used for worship until the 1950s.

About this building

Key Features

  • Architecture
  • Monuments

Visitors information

  • Bus stop within 100m
  • Café within 500m

Other nearby buildings

Chapelle des Pénitents noirs, Marseille 2e

This chapel belonged to the Brotherhood of the Holy Name of Jesus, nicknamed "the Bourras" because of the habit in cruets worn by their members. The chapel was built in 1597. Seized during the Revolution, it is disused, serves as a warehouse for objects from various churches and became a revolutionary court in 1793. It was classified as a historical monument in 1931.

Marseille Cathedral

The Cathedral of the Major or Cathedral Sainte-Marie-Majeure is the catholic cathedral of the archdiocese of Marseille. The Major was built in neo-Byzantine style between 1852 and 1893 on the plans of the architect Léon Vaudoyer. It is a listed historical monument since 1906.

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