This 19th-century Romano-Byzantine basilica, informally known as La Bonne Mère, sits atop Marseille’s highest hill, La Garde, and is visible from almost anywhere in the city. The structure is striking, with colored marble, murals and mosaics, wraparound terraces and a tall Virgin Mary crowning the bell tower. Since Roman times, this site has served as […]
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L’abbaye Saint-Victor, Marseille, France
The remains of L’abbaye Saint-Victor, once a prestigious religious center, overlooks the Vieux Port. The abbey was built in the early 5th century on the site where Saint Victor was massacred, and was dismembered in the 18th century. It was secularized, the gold and silver valuables were melted to make coins, the relics were burned […]
Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure de Marseille, Marseille, France
This monstrosity is Marseille’s cathedral. If it looks a little modern, it’s because it was built during the late-19th century boom. This was built to signify France’s importance as a powerful trading partner with Asia. Built in eye-catching green and white stone stripes and a mix of Romanesque, Byzantine and Gothic styles, the cathedral oozes […]
La Vieille Charité, Marseille, France
We spotted this unique dome and beautifully-colored stone from the street and wandered in to find a bit of calmness. The structure that wraps around the Baroque church was originally designed as an almshouse by Marseille architect Pierre Puget. In the 19th century, it was used as an asylum, then for soldiers and the homeless. […]
Chartreuse du Val de Bénédiction, Villeneuve-lés-Avignon, France
But for the religious requirement and the communal living, this lovely monastery tucked away in quiet Villeneuve-lés-Avignon would have been an appealing place to call home. 13th-century village Villeneuve-lés-Avignon is overshadowed by neighboring Avignon, but its second-rate status ensures quiet streets and a slow pace. In the 14th century, Pope Innocent VI donated some land […]
Les Antiques, St-Rémy de Provence
If you don’t believe that chic St-Rémy de Provence wasn’t always filled with boutiques and cafés, drive a few minutes out of the city center and look by the side of the road. There, you’ll see two ancient structures sitting in the middle of a field that comprise the site known as Les Antiques. The […]
Collégiale Saint Martin, St-Rémy de Provence, France
Collégiale Saint Martin’s hulking Neoclassical mass is stuffed into tiny St-Rémy’s streets. The structure, which stands on the site of a medieval church, only dates from 1821, having been constructed after the original collapsed in 1818. The 14th-century Gothic bell tower and chapel are from the original building. I’ve seen a lot of organs, and […]
Igreja do Carmo, Porto
This 18th-century Baroque church is a visual feast with its gilt carvings and Portuguese Rococo touches. Igreja do Carmo and its neighbor, Igreja das Carmelitas, are separated by what could be the world’s thinnest house, a 1-meter wide sliver. A Portugese law used to prohibit churches from sharing walls, so voilà, a house was built. […]
Igreja das Carmelitas, Porto
Igreja das Carmelitas and its neighbor, Igreja do Carmo, are separated by what could be the world’s thinnest house, a 1-meter wide sliver. A Portugese law used to prohibit churches from sharing walls, so voilà, a house was built. Igreja das Carmelitas was built in the early 17th century for the Carmelite order of nuns. […]
Torre de Clérigos and Igreja dos Clérigos, Porto
The Torre de Clérigos is one of the most recognizable and highest structures in Porto’s skyline. The 75-meter tall granite tower was constructed in the late-18th century. At that time, it was the highest structure in Portugal. We didn’t bother climbing the 225 stairs to the top since it was raining and grey, but the […]
