Visiting Marseille on Thursday January 16, Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture, announces a broad protection plan for Marseille and regional heritage, particularly for religious buildings, reports “ici Provence”. According to the minister, some of these buildings will also become national heritage.
Among the sites soon to be classified as National Heritage: the Matisse chapel in Vence (Alpes-Maritimes), the Sainte-Baume sanctuary (Var) and the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica in Marseille. The diocese of Marseille, owner of the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica, tempers and declares, in a press release, that “discussions are underway within the diocesan authorities and no decision has yet been taken, either to accept the nomination of Notre-Dame de la Garde, or to decline it”.
Around fifty buildings in Marseille, not all religious, will be protected as Historic Monuments in the next two years, such as, for example, the Saint-Étienne du Frioul chapel, the Notre-Dame-du-Mont church like that of Saint -Barnabe, the Armenian Cathedral, the Greek Orthodox Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, the Monument of the Returnees, the Pharo Palace, the Marine Fire Station, the park Chanot, the La Martine sunflower swimming pool, the Thiers and Montgrand high schools and the Catalans tower.
During her visit, Rachida Dati also announced the continuation of the financing of the Major Cathedral, where she went to take stock of the renovation site: 2.3 million euros (on nearly of six) will be unlocked. An announcement to which the president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, Renaud Muselier, reacted. He congratulates “very good news and great recognition of the heritage of our region”on the social network
The Minister of Culture also visited the Mucem, the Grotte Cosquer and the Saint-Ferréol church on the Old Port of Marseille.
