A restoration of the Madonna and Child statue atop Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille has revealed seven bullet holes from Nazi gunfire during World War II. The 37-foot-tall copper and iron statue, known as the Bonne Mère, was shot after the city's liberation in 1944, when German artillery units fired on the church, piercing the bell tower, breaking stained-glass windows, and destroying the ceiling mosaic. The bullet holes were discovered near the end of a five-year restoration that included re-gilding and the installation of a new crown via helicopter.
The discovery matters because it uncovers a long-hidden layer of Marseille's wartime history tied to a beloved civic icon that residents view as a protective symbol. The bullet holes serve as tangible evidence of the violence that followed the city's liberation, challenging the narrative that the danger had passed. The restored statue, which was sorely missed during its scaffolding-covered absence, will be inaugurated on December 7, reconnecting the community with a monument that embodies both faith and resilience.