Marseille, France: Basilica of Our Lady of the Guard (Notre Dame de la Garde)
About the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde in Marseille:
The Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, affectionately known as “La Bonne Mère” (The Good Mother), is an iconic Roman Catholic minor basilica perched atop a 149-meter (489 ft) limestone hill on the southern edge of Marseille’s Old Port. It serves as the city’s most prominent landmark and spiritual guardian, offering sweeping panoramic views of the Mediterranean coastline, the port, and the urban sprawl below. Built in a striking Neo-Byzantine style, it attracts around 1.5 million visitors annually, blending religious devotion, maritime history, and architectural grandeur.
Notable visitors include Napoleon III in 1860, Cardinal Karol Józef Wojtyła of Poland (later to become Pope John Paul II) in 1947 and Pope Francis in 2023.
On October 17, 2025 the crown of the Virgin of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde was hoisted back into place by helicopter, concluding several months of restoration. More than 30,000 gold leaves have restored all its shine to the Bonne-Mère.
Traveling to Notre Dame de la Garde in Marseille:
The Basilica towers over the city in Marseille’s 6th Arrondissement, so it is impossible to miss it. Naturally, it is quite a hike up to the top, so those who wish can catch the little tourist train that shuttles passengers between the Old Port and the mountain top.
Address: Notre Dame de la Garde Rue Fort du Sanctuaire 13281 Marseille
GPS coordinates: 43° 17′ 3.5376” N, 5° 22′ 21.7920” E
Tel: +33 (0)4 91 13 40 80
Click here for the official website of Notre Dame de la Garde.