Every view of Marseille includes her: the basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde on its limestone hill south of the Vieux-Port, crowned by a gilded statue of the Virgin and Child more than ten metres high. Marseillais call her la Bonne Mère, the Good Mother, protector of sailors and fishermen. The present church, by the architect Henri-Jacques Espérandieu, was built in the 1850s and 1860s in a Romano-Byzantine style of striped stone and mosaics, on the site of a medieval chapel and a fort.
For visitors to the Château d’If, the hill is the best viewpoint in the city: the terraces look straight out over the bay to the Frioul islands and the fortress, and back over the rooftops, the port and the hills around.
What to see and do: Notre-Dame de la Garde
The panorama
Walk round the terraces for a 360-degree view: the Château d’If and Frioul to the west, the Vieux-Port below, the Calanques massif to the south-east.
The ex-votos
Inside, the walls of the basilica are covered with ex-votos — painted panels, plaques and model boats and planes given in thanks for rescues at sea and other escapes. They are a moving record of the city’s seafaring life.
The mosaics and the crypt
Gold and coloured mosaics fill the upper church; below it, a darker crypt is cut into the rock.
The marks of 1944
Bullet and shell marks from the fighting during the liberation of Marseille in August 1944 are still visible on the walls outside.
How to get to Notre-Dame de la Garde
- Bus 60 runs from the Vieux-Port area up to the basilica. The hop-on hop-off bus and the tourist train also go up.
- On foot, it is a steep climb of around half an hour from the Vieux-Port through the streets and stairways of the 7th arrondissement.
Insider tips
- Entry to the basilica is free. Dress respectfully and keep quiet during services.
- Go late afternoon for warm light over the bay and the islands — and a cooler climb.
- The esplanade is very windy when the Mistral blows; hold on to hats.
Best tours & tickets for Notre-Dame de la Garde
These well-reviewed experiences pair well with a visit to Notre-Dame de la Garde:
Hop-on hop-off bus from €25 Marseille: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
The easiest way up to Notre-Dame de la Garde without the climb: an open-top bus loop with audio commentary taking in the basilica, the Corniche and the city’s landmarks. The most-reviewed product in Marseille.
- Goes up to Notre-Dame de la Garde
- Onboard audio commentary
- Wheelchair accessible
Guided tour from €70 Marseille: Panier & Notre-Dame de la Garde Half-Day Tour
A half-day guided tour combining the oldest district of Marseille, Le Panier, with the basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde and its view over the bay and the islands.
- The old Panier quarter
- The basilica and its panorama
- Small number of reviews, all high
Guided e-bike tour from €57 Marseille: City Highlights Guided Half-Day E-Bike Tour
Marseille is hilly and spread out; an electric bike makes it easy to link the Old Port, the Corniche and Notre-Dame de la Garde in one half-day with a guide.
- Covers the hills without the effort
- Notre-Dame de la Garde and the coast
- Rated 4.8
Guided walking tour from €50 Marseille: Half-Day City Highlights Guided Walking Tour
A half-day guided walk through the heart of Marseille — the Old Port, the lanes of Le Panier and the stories that link them — rated 4.9 by several hundred participants. A good way to spend the morning before an afternoon boat to the Château d’If.
- Old Port, Le Panier and the city’s history
- A 4.9 rating from hundreds of walkers
- Local guide
