Église of Saint-Ferréol les Augustins (Church of Saint Ferreol), Marseille

The Church of Saint Ferréol is a Roman Catholic church with a rich and layered history. Originally owned by the Knights Templar, it was granted to a community of Augustinian hermits in 1369. In 1447, they began constructing a new church, which was dedicated in 1542, although the vaulted ceiling was not completed until 1588.

During the Old Regime, the church hosted professional guild ceremonies. The ship-porters’ guild maintained altars dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul as early as 1390. One of the most significant events associated with the site occurred on October 28, 1533, when Pope Clement VII presided over the marriage of noblewoman Catherine de’ Medici and the future Henry II of France, Duke of Orléans. However, the ceremony did not take place inside the Church of Saint Ferréol itself, which was still under construction, but rather in a temporary chapel within the nearby Palace of the Augustinian Priory.

Architecturally, the Church of Saint Ferréol holds many artistic and historical treasures. The high altar, along with the side altars of the Augustinians and ship-porters, was designed by Dominique Fossaty. Inside, visitors can see the Mazenod family tomb from 1564 and the Montolieu family tomb from 1695, as well as the relics of Saint Louis of Toulouse.

The church also contains important works of art. Three paintings by Michel Serre depict Saint Margaret, The Virgin and Child Appearing to Saint Peter, and Saint Paul. Sculptures include a bust of Saint Ferreolus of Vienne and a statue of Saint Augustine by Raymond Servian. A more recent addition, the Holy Family by Yves Le Pape, continues the church’s artistic legacy.

Adding to its grandeur is the neogothic pipe organ, designed by Augustin Zieger in 1844, which remains a centerpiece of this enduring landmark.