Synagogue of Marseille, Jewish temple in 6th arrondissement, Marseille, France

The Great Synagogue of Marseille stands at 117 Rue Breteuil, its pale stone facade crowned by a triangular gable with two spherical finials. A circular rose window with wheel-like tracery sits above a wide arched portal containing a dark double door, a glazed fanlight and an inscription band. Paired arched windows flank the center, and a black iron fence runs across the base.

Construction started in 1855 to replace an earlier building that had deteriorated, with architect Nathan Salomon overseeing the work that finished in 1864. The building received protected monument status in 2007, securing its preservation for future generations.

The congregation follows the Sephardi rite, and the building's mix of Western and Oriental design was chosen to reflect the diversity of its worshippers. A wooden pulpit, a feature more common in Christian churches, stands unused, while the 1900 organ still plays at weddings. About twenty weddings, many Bar Mitzvah and Brit Milah ceremonies are held here each year.

The synagogue stands at 117 Rue Breteuil in the 6th arrondissement, set back from the street in a courtyard reached through the two large wooden doors. It is an active place of worship, so visits, guided or self-guided, are arranged by prior reservation rather than at fixed opening times.

The wooden central platform (bimah) was donated in 1889 by Naquet, president of the Central Consistory, for the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Readings and services are held from it, and the building's height gives the hall exceptional acoustics. A wooden pulpit also stands inside, a sign of Christian influence at the time of construction, but it is never used.