Notre-Dame de la Major rises on the northern edge of historic Marseille, where the city opens onto the sea. Built in the 19th century, the cathedral is a symbol of the city.
Right now, there is an exhibition in the enormous arched space of the cathedral by French artist, Marcoville. His aim is to let light speak through his work. The first thing you notice, walking in, is light: how it moves across the stone. The artist has spent more than 40 years making art out of materials other people discard. Since the 80's, his focus has been on glass - fractured panes, broken mirrors, glass fragments from landfills.
The show, "Lumières Célestes" (Celestial Bodies) unfurls like a revelation. There are 600 glass angels suspended in the church, 50 Madonnas standing with a deep presence and other glass sculptures throughout. They are all crafted from the artist's found materials.
Walking through, one feels small. The forms amplify the grandeur of the space. The artist's notion is that these celestial forms invite reflection - playing with a space dedicated to that. The quiet here isn't empty; it has been filled with the material and spirit of Marcoville.
FIELD NOTES:
Location: Notre-Dame de la Major, Marseille
Exhibition: Lumières Célestes
Dates: October 2025-March 10 2026
Time: Every day 10:00am-5:30pm
Free Entry
Best moment to go: Late afternoon when the interior glow is most pronounced
Time needed: 20-30 minutes (more if you want to sit to reflect)
