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One of the most beautiful cathedrals ever erected by people is Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille, France. This exquisite and lavishly decorated Neo-Byzantine church lays at the top of one distinctive hill called Hill of La Garde, the highest point in Marseille. With its height of 62 m (532 ft) of limestone outcrop on the south side of the Vieux Port (The old harbour), the cathedral looks majestic in the eyes of the onlookers. It is not only a significant landmark, it is also a place of pilgrimage, which takes place every August the 15th (the feast of Assumption). The local citizens refer to the cathedral lovingly as 'La Bonne Mere' (the good mother).

The church was built between 1853 and 1864 by the famous architect Jacque Henri Esperandieu. It was commissioned by the Bishop of Marseille.

Right next to the basillica is the 60 metre belfry. The building of the whole complex took 170 000 tonnes of metal, including 23 ships of marble and porphyry.

The interior of the basillica is not very common for such institution - it is full with marble, musaics and murals.
There is a lot to see in and outside The Good Mother, so if you go to Marseille, make sure to stop by!