Church of Saint Vincent de Paul (Les Réformés)

The people of Marseille call it the Church of the Reformed because it was built on the site of the former chapel of the Reformed Augustinians.

Located in the heart of Marseille, at the top of the legendary Canebière, in the Chapitre district, it attracts a large number of locals, pilgrims, the curious, and of course, tourists.

Construction and birth of the church of the reformed

Located in the 1st arrondissement of the Phocaean city, it is at this location that previously stood the Chapel of the Reformed Augustinians, to whom the current Church owes its name. It was the Duke of Guise, then Governor of Provence, who laid the first stone on June 20, 1611. The Chapel was destroyed in 1868, following the Concordat.

Architect François Reybaud was in charge of the construction. The first stone of the building was laid by Monseigneur Eugène de Mazenot on April 22, 1855. However, in 1862, it was Father Joseph Pougnet who took charge of the construction. The construction was slowed down due to lack of funds. The Church sought help from the Parish of Saint Vincent de Paul to raise funds. 3 million Francs were collected and allowed to complete the construction of this architectural monument. It was completed with difficulties and the inauguration took place on September 20, 1886, after more than 30 years of work. It was consecrated in 1888. The monumental building, in the Gothic style of the 13th century, overlooks the Canebière with its neo-Gothic facade and its statue of Joan of Arc, created by Botinelly in 1943, which welcomes visitors on the steps. Its dimensions are spectacular: 63 meters long by 30 meters wide. It rises to 30 meters in height, with an interior height of 23 meters. The spires of the Church of the Reformed reach 70 meters in height each! The gigantic wooden doors are adorned with majestic bronze panels, as are the 1270 m2 of stained glass windows, created by Edouard Didron, which are well worth a closer look.

The parish of the reformed today

Over the years, the Church of the Reformed has seen its faithful dwindle to the point where it was considered for demolition in the 1980s. However, in 2005, with the arrival of Father Michel-Marie Zanotti-Sorkine, it regained its former prestige. Since December 2014, the Church of the Reformed has been classified as a Historical Monument. After validation by the Regional Commission for Heritage and Sites, it became the 82nd classified monument in Marseille and the 41st protected monument belonging to the city.

In 2005, emergency work was needed on the building's 2 bell towers and spires.

But that's not all! The same year, the original plans of the building were found, carefully stored on a shelf for over 30 years. These plans were drawn by François Raybaud and are, in addition to being intact, dated and signed by the architect. From a historical point of view, this allowed to determine that Father Joseph Pougnet had followed his predecessor's instructions to the letter, except for the ornaments and stained glass windows which he supervised himself. This find will also greatly facilitate the restoration work that took place in 2018 and amounted to 13 million euros.

Every year, the Mass of the Santonniers is celebrated there, which takes place on Christ the King Sunday, around mid-November, before inaugurating the Santon Fair. If you are in Marseille during this period, we highly recommend attending this typically Provençal ceremony.

Today, the Church of the Reformed is one of the most frequented parishes in Marseille with nearly 800 faithful gathering there during major Catholic festivals. It's the perfect place to pray in Marseille, in this Church that is part of Marseille's history.

Architecture and art enthusiasts cannot miss this gem nestled in the heart of Marseille.