Hotels near Cathedrale La Major

Cathedrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure, known locally as La Major, was built between 1852 and 1893 in a Neo-Byzantine style, using alternating bands of green Florentine stone and white Cassis limestone. It measures 142 metres long and holds around 3,000 people, which places it among the largest cathedrals raised anywhere in Europe during the 19th century. The domes and striped masonry read closer to Istanbul than to Provence.

Beside it stands the Vieille Major, the surviving fragment of the 12th-century Romanesque cathedral that the new building almost swallowed. Entry to both is free. The vaulted arcades running underneath, Les Voutes de la Major, have been converted into shops and cafes facing the water, and the esplanade in front links directly to the MuCEM promenade in about six minutes on foot.

Pro Tip: Pair La Major with MuCEM in one walk along the Promenade Robert Laffont. The cathedral closes between 12:00 and 14:30, so schedule the interior either side of that gap.