Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Majeure

Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte lays the first foundation stone of the new Cathedral September 26, 1852, consecrated May 6, 1896, the plans are from the architect Leon Vaudoyer. At his death in 1872, Henry resumed Espérandieu site until his own death in 1874. Henry is finally Revoil which completes the new cathedral.

The construction of St. Mary Major (often called "the Major") required major amputation of the former Notre Dame (formerly Major). Major is one of the largest religious buildings and ambitious built in the 19th century. Its construction lasted from 1852 to 1893, and its architects successive Vaudoyer, and then Espérandieu Revoil, granted in large part to historicism. With his apparatus alternately white and green stones, the building of Byzantine style (Romanesque-Byzantine mosaic work, cupolas) marie indeed Romanesque and Gothic elements. The plan is a Latin cross. The choir is surrounded by a long walkway lined with chapels ... Its total length is 146 m, the main dome was nearly 70 m high and 18 m in diameter.  

Outside: the facade adorned with statues of Christ and the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul and the saints of Provence, carved spandrels, the bronze statue of Bishop Belsunce, bishop of Marseille during the plague 1720. Inside: the statues of the four evangelists by Louis Botinelly, Christ and St. Veronica by Auguste Carli, the ciborium and onyx altar Jules Cantini, the tomb of St. Eugene de Mazenod in the axial chapel.