Marseille

Overlooking the Old Port is the Notre-Dame de la Garde, a Neo-Byzantine basilica built in the 1850s on a 490 ft high limestone outcropping. The 135 ft (41 m) square bell tower, topped by a 42 ft (12.5 m) belfry, supports a 27 ft (11.2 m) statue of the Madonna and Child made of copper gilded with gold leaf. (Jesus' wrist is 42 inches (1 m) around and the statue weighs 9 tons.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the front doors.

 

 

The interior is decorated with mosaics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking up is just as impressive.

 

 

 

 

This is a seafarers' church and there are models of ships hanging from the ceiling.

 

 

There is also stained glass.

 

 

We will be making our way back home tomorrow.

 

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Marseille

Today was a wander-around-Marseille day. This is very much a big city, especially after Vaison.

 

This view is of Vieux Port, the Old Port.

 

 

The port has two impressive fortresses at its mouth which were built in the 17th century under Louis XIV.

 

 

Located just off the coast are the four islands of the Frioul archipelago. The small one in the middle is If, the site of the Château D'If, built for King François I in 1531. This is where the main fictional character in Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo was imprisoned.

 

 

This is the City Hall with its bust of Louis XIV.

 

 

 

This is the Chamber of Commerce building. The relief on the ceiling shows great moments in Marseille's history.

 

 

 

 

This building, La Charité Museum, was built in 1674 as a poorhouse. It is now a collection of art galleries.

 

 

This is the church in the courtyard.

 

 

This is a department store.

 

 

And this is just a cool balcony.

 

 

The Cathédrale de la Novelle Major was built in the late 1800s.

 

 

 

 

This is the arch over the main doorway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Vaison la Romaine

In addition to the Roman ruins, Vaison has a medieval old town on top of a hill. This is where our hotel is located. This is a view of the medieval town from the Roman bridge.

 

 

This is our hotel.

 

 

The dining room.

 

 

The garden and terrace.

 

 

The stairs to our room.

 

 

Our room is the only one at the top of the tower.

 

 

This is the view from one of our windows.

 

 

These are some of the picturesque places we saw while wandering around the town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the very top of the hill are the remains of a chateau built in 1195.

 

 

 

There are some nice views from up there.

 

 

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