soon a new stage in the renovation of the cathedral of the Major
The building has been the subject of work since 2016. After the towers, the south facade and the roofs, the companions are tackling the domes in early 2023.
Even surrounded by scaffolding, it would be recognized among a thousand. The Cathedral of the Major is one of the iconic monuments of the city of Marseille. A monument made of marble built according to the plans of the architect Léon Vaudoyer between 1852 and 1893.
To restore it to its former glory, a renovation campaign restarted in 2016. After the renovation of the two bell towers and the south facade, eight companions carried out work on the roofs in February.
Their mission: to recycle and reinstall the 40 tons of lead that make up the central cover, subject to water infiltration, and repair the cracks on the ridges for an identical reconstruction. Also victim of the weight of the years, to the point of jeopardizing the nave, the wooden frame benefits from a facelift. This phase should end in November.
6.5 million euros
The Major site, also called Sainte-Marie-Majeure cathedral, will enter a new phase at the beginning of 2023.
Adil El Mansouri, technical director for the renovation of the building, details the work to come: “We are going to redo the covers of the domes, the three domes: section 1, then afterwards, you have section 2, which is on the third dome, which you have at the end of the apse part, which is also going to be repaired”.
Then, the workers will work on “the lead roofing, with the cornice coverings” and on “the ornamentation parts, the ears that you have at the top, and skylights. (…) Skylights all in lead which will also be redo”.
Estimated at 6.5 million euros, the work carried out on the cathedral, classified as a historic monument since 1906, should end in 2024.