Imagine fifteen monks living as hermits. They barely speak to each other and have almost no contact with the outside world. That was life for the Carthusian monks. They resided at the monastery that once stood where the \u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine des Chartreux now stands.
This church wasn’t always a parish church. The \u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine des Chartreux started as the chapel for a Carthusian monastery. The monastery gave its name to this district in Marseille’s 4th arrondissement.
Why was it built here? This area was outside the city. The monks had farmland near the Jarret brook. Marshal de Vitry, then Governor of Provence laid the first stone on September 8 1633. Donations from aristocratic families financed the construction. Work on the church itself began in 1680. Bishop of Marseille consecrated it in 1702.
The Order of the Carthusians was founded by St Bruno in 1084. It’s known as the most severe order in the Church. Monks lived as a community but also as hermits. They spoke as little as possible. Contact with the population was very limited. They didn’t open their monastery doors to the public.
The monastery peaked in the 17th century. The monks lived quietly until the French Revolution in 1703. The Revolution changed everything. Monastic vows were declared against the Declaration of Human Rights. They were then prohibited. About fifteen monks were disbanded. In 1790 the land was divided and sold.
But the church experienced a revival. The population increased in the second half of the 19th century. Space became limited. So the mayor called for a study to find a solution. The arches separating the nave from the aisles were drilled through.
Disaster struck in 1952. An oil mill explosion nearby broke the stained glass windows. This damaged the \u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine des Chartreux. Restoration work became necessary.
Despite its austere look the \u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine des Chartreux holds treasures. Magnificent stained glass windows adorn it. An impressive massive organ fills the space with music. The peristyle is 28.60 m wide. Eight columns 10.60 m high support it. Eight bases sit above the columns but statues were never placed there due to lack of funds. The church facade is 31 m long. The nave soars to 27 metres high.
French writer Marcel Pagnol once lived in the Chartreux district. His father taught at the Collège des Chartreux. The \u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine des Chartreux is worth a visit. It’s a masterpiece of 17th-century classical art in Marseille. It provides a soothing space for prayer and reflection. Many compare it to the Vieille Charité. They were built around the same time.
Today the \u00c9glise Sainte-Marie-Madeleine des Chartreux stands as a testament to history and faith. Its walls have witnessed centuries of change. From monastic solitude to parish life it has adapted and endured. A place of beauty a place of peace. It continues to welcome all who seek solace within its walls.