Saint Laurent's church

The parish church of the Saint-Jean district, the oldest district of Marseille, it is the fishermen's parish.
Severely shaken by the explosions that demolished the neighbouring houses, it was disused for a long time and then partly restored and returned to worship.
It is located on the probable site of the first Greek temple dedicated to Apollo.
An enormous and magnificent capital was found at the foot of the mound when the sewage system was installed in the district of Saint-Jean.

In the Middles-Ages, Marseille was in danger of the Saracen invasions "invasions Sarrazines". In fact, the Saracens took and plundered Marseille in 838, so much so that in order to prevent further incursions, a bishop named Babon had an enclosure built a refuge castle, called the Babon Castle on the Saint- Laurent Hill.
The present church, which succeeds the much older chapel in the Babon Castle, was built in the 12th century, after the "Major", of which it was a priory.

The monument has undergone numerous alterations over the years and its façade, notably, was cut in 1668 when the fort Saint-Jean was built.
It still preserves the essential elements of Romanesque architecture.

Parish priest : Alain Ottonello.

Masses are celebrated at Saint-Laurent and at "Accoules church".
At Saint-Laurent, on Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm, Sunday and feast day at 10.30am
In "Accoules Church", Saturday and eve of feast day at 6pm.