Notre Dame de la Garde

Their story.

The story of Notre Dame begins in 1214. At that time the Bonne Mère was only a small chapel nestled on a hill. It was a priest of Marseille who decided to have a sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary on the hill known as La Garde.in the 16th century, François I just victorious in the battle of Marignan visited Marseille and noticed that the City lacked defenses. In 1524, Charles-Quint, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, tried to seize the Midi. An incident that will be followed by the decision to build two forts in Marseille: one in the If, the other on the hill of the Garde.

The Chapel was then to close to the public, the chapels of forts étant rées to the soldiers of the garrison, but it was decided that in times of peace, the faithful would be allowed às às to pray on the hill of the Guard. A unique case, which demonstrates the importance of the place.Then the time of the Reacute;volution arrived, the members of the Bourbon family are locked up 6 months in Notre Dame de la Garde. In 1851, the administrators of Notre Dame asked the Minister of War for permission to demolish the chapel and build a sanctuary with a bell tower. The agreement was given in 1852, and among the proposed architectural projects it was that of the young Espérandieu who was chosen.

Did you know...
In 1897, its construction was completed with the installation of the heavy bronze doors.