Bettyboop10

We are two 76+ travelers who will be in Marseille for 3 days in October.

We plan to take the Petit Train to the basilica and while we plan to climb the steps, we read on the Marseille-Provence website that in 2012 a shaft was dug for an elevator to take you to all levels.

We would love to hear from anyone that has been on the elevator or knows if it really is there. It would be a total relief to us to know that we could see all without climbing steps that we don't have to

Also, are there steps from where we leave the Petit Train to the level of the platform that surrounds the basilica?

Thanks for your input.

kappa1

> Notre Dame du Mont..

You mean Notre Dame de la Garde?

DebitNM

We were there in February 2013. We took the public transit bus there and we were let off in a parking lot; the Petite Train dropped people in the same lot. There was a lot of stairs just to get from the parking lot to the base of the church.

Asking my husband - neither of us remembers an elevator being available. But to be honest, we weren't looking for one.

I have looked at their website, no mention of one nor information re: handicap access. I suggest you ask them directly. Use this link to ask, if you prefer to ask in French, use Google Translate to ask and if you need it for reply.

http://www.notredamedelagarde.com/Contact.html

Bettyboop10

Yes, Notre Dame de la Garde. My map had the other name, but thankful you know the difference.

Bettyboop10

And thanks to Debit DM, I have emailed them following the link you provided.

I thought I had looked for an email address before, but couldn't find one. This will hopefully answer my question.

There is a lot of misinformation out there.

kappa1

Can't tell about the new elevator. My last visit there was October 2012. Been there about 10 times at least. I did not see any new one but I was not looking for it. But I know there is one, nothing new, on the left of the entrance to the gift shop. That's already after up the stairs that DebitNM wrote about, on the same level as the main entrance to the Church is. I think there are about 2/3 sets of stairs to get there, each with at least 10 steps or more. The elevator next to the gift shop goes DOWN to a coffee shop as I vaguely remember. But I have no idea where/if you can get to the elevator from the lower level.

Hope you will get clear answer by e-mail soon. If they don't answer you, you can try to write to Marseille Tourist Office. There people will understand English for sure. It's located at the beginning of Canebière street almost facing the Vieux-Port so easy to visit where you are there as well.

Also try asking on Tripadvisor Marseille Forum. There are locals answering there so maybe you get lastest infos there.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum..._Provence.html

kerouac

I was there in July and did not see any elevator.

Bettyboop10

Thanks to all. We are still looking and took kappa1's advice and put a question on trip advisor. We did hear back from our email to ND de La Garde with info in French (we used our google translator to read) that there is an elevator for all levels, just didn't explain where it starts.

Bettyboop10

Marseille tourism replied to our email saying,"There is an elevator at the feet of the basilica next to the car park. No problem if you travel by car, but if you go by public transport you will have to climb a few steps."

Thanks again to everyone who replied, and especially kappa1 for your suggestion. I think we now have our answer and maybe our topic will help some others.

Happy traveling.

kappa1

You are welcome Bettyboop. Very glad you got an answer from the tourist office. And thank you for coming back to report. That will be a help to the others with the similar situation.

> if you go by public transport you will have to climb a few steps."

That must be the first part of the stairs at the level where the city bus No.60 stops ( you get part of nice view already from there). It may be about 10 steps rather than a few but hope you can take your time and make it.

DebitNM

Understand that there are still steps <i>inside</i> the church that you will need to use to see the other levels. IIRC, there are pretty narrow, winding steps in a circular fashion. I *may* but confusing them with other church visited, but I think it was here.

Bettyboop10

And thanks again. We plan to visit the tourist office on the first afternoon we are there, so will look for more clarification then. I'm sure we can do some steps, just would like to cut down on the number. Getting older, but we can take it slow and easy. Looking forward to our visit.