Marseille Cathedral

La Major Cathedral, the imposing cathedral of Marseille

Breathtaking, La Major Cathedral represents all the power of Marseille. It is one of the only cathedrals built in France in the nineteenth century. The Marseille audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this monumental building, standing between the Panier district and the sea.

A nineteenth-century cathedral

Sainte-Marie-Majeure Cathedral, called La Major, is located in the Joliette district, in the second arrondissement. Built in the nineteenth century, it is one of the rare cathedrals built in France in that era. Its Romano-Byzantine style architecture, with its domes and its stones of alternating shades, gives it a majestic and oriental appearance, facing the Mediterranean.

What to see

You admire the imposing two-coloured stone façade, the domes and the richly decorated interior, in a spectacular Romano-Byzantine style. The cathedral dominates the seafront, near the quays of the Joliette and Le Panier. It is a major stop for lovers of architecture and religious heritage in Marseille.

Practical information

La Major Cathedral lies in the Joliette district, near Le Panier and the seafront, in Marseille, reachable on foot and by public transport. A working Catholic place of worship, it can be visited with respect for services; entry is generally free, but hours vary with the season. It is best to check them before coming.

When was La Major Cathedral built?

In the nineteenth century; it is one of the rare cathedrals built in France in that era, in a Romano-Byzantine style.

Where is La Major Cathedral?

In the Joliette district, in the second arrondissement of Marseille, near Le Panier and the seafront.