NOTRE-DAME-DE-LA GARDE Home Page An Astonishing Architectural Style... ...And Astonishing Particularities Our Lady of the Guard in numbers "Our Good Mother" from all directions Let's go Inside... A story of abiding tenacity living Faith To Welcome You FORUM A few books

An astonishing architectural style The basilica of Our Lady of the Guard : the sight of this monument can leave no one indifferent. This is a world-famous monument whose mixed architectural style (Romanesque--Byzantine) has remained controversial. During the 19th century, some Catholics from Marseilles, unhappy about the architectural choice (strangely) compared the basilica to a locomotive. Currently few historians or urban designers really appreciate it. And we must acknowledge that anyone who has never seen a building of this style does get a visual shock as they arrive on the terrace of Our Lady of the Guard and discover the edifice up close.