Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Major in France, resort of Marseille
Rating: 7,5/10 (1001 votes)  The Cathedral of Our Lady of Marseille boasts a rich history. In addition to being the main temple of the city, where today the archdiocese of Marseilles is located, but also the oldest church building in Marseille. The first wooden church was erected on this site in the 6th century, but neither images nor any detailed descriptions have survived in historical documents. Several centuries later, the church became a Marseille cathedral, and this cathedral stood until the middle of the 19th century. In 1852, on the personal order of Napoleon III, the old Marseille Cathedral was dismantled, and the construction of a completely new luxurious temple began. The state allocated only a small part of the necessary money, and funds for the construction were collected throughout the country: somewhere by donations from the population, somewhere thanks to the generous transfers of influential people of that time. One way or another, 50 years later, in 1896, having replaced three architects, the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary was solemnly consecrated. The construction of the temple took huge funds and the efforts of the best masters of France and the whole Europe. The marble for the facade was brought exclusively from Italy, where it was prepared by talented bricklayers. More than one generation of Italian and Greek craftsmen responded to the interior decoration of the temple. The result was the richest in decoration of the Cathedral of Marseille. The general architectural style is defined as a synthesis of the Byzantine and Romanesque styles. The facade is decorated with numerous statues depicting Jesus Christ and the apostles. We also recommend reading Helbrunn Castle in Austria, Salzburg resort Topic: Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Major in France, resort of Marseille. |
