Notre-Dame de la Garde

Crowning the highest natural point in Marseille, this Romanesque-Byzantine basilica is topped by a gilded statue of the Virgin that sailors long regarded as their guardian. Built in the nineteenth century over an earlier chapel and fort, its striped stone facade and mosaic-lined interior glitter with maritime votive offerings, including model ships hung from the ceiling. The terrace offers a sweeping panorama over the old port, the city, and the offshore islands. Locals call it la Bonne Mère, and it remains a defining silhouette on the skyline.