Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière, Lyon
Facade of the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere. Photo by Tim Chen.
East end of the basilica, overlooking the city. Photo by Tim Chen.
Rooftop and towers of the basilica high above Lyon. Photo by romaryka.
West front of the basilica by night. Photo by Romain Guy.
A lion guards the entrance. Photo by Tim Chen.
Golden, baroque interior of Notre-Dame-de-Fourviere. Photo by dek.
The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière sits high atop the Fourvière Hill in Lyon, France. It was built between 1872 and 1876 in the typical Baroque style of the period and offers a magnificent view over the city.
History
Like the Basilique Sacré-Coeur in Paris, Lyon's basilica was built to underline the might of the Roman Catholic Church after the Prussian defeat of France in 1870 gave rise to the birth of the anticlerical Third Republic. Both basilicas also have in common a Byzantine style and hilltop site.
The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière was built on an ancient Roman forum by the architect Pierre Bossan. Erected next to the existing Chapel of the Vierge, the basilica was constructed between 1872 and 1876. Inside, it was richly decorated to demonstrate the Church's wealth and power (although in reality, it had only the former).
What to See
The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière, visible from all over the city, rises fortresslike on a hill with four octagonal towers and crenellated walls. Its austere and imposing exterior contrasts with the richly decorated interior.
Gilt, marble work, stained glass windows, and colored mosaics cover its interior, and an ancient chapel adjoins the church. Daylight streams into the extremely large Saint Jean crypt. A gilded statue of the Virgin surmounts the belfry.
The adjacent terrace provides a panoramic view of the city, with the cathedral of St-Jean in the foreground and the glass towers of the reconstructed Part-Dieu business complex glistening behind. For a yet more sweeping view, climb the 287 steps to the basilica observatory. The gardens of Rosaire, designed by Bossan, invite meditation whilst the Hauteurs Park offers a pleasant walk.
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Lyon Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière; Fourvière Basilica; Notre-Dame Basilica; Basilica of Our Lady of Fourvière |
| Type of site: | Basilica-style Christian church |
| Dates: | 1872-76 |
| Address: | 8 Pl. de Fourvière, Fourvière, Lyon, France |
| Phone: | 04-78-25-51-82 |
| Directions: | From place St-Jean (6 rue de l’Antiquaille), take the funicular up the hill to the basilica. |
| Hours: | Basilica: Daily 8-noon and 2-6 Observatory: Easter-Oct., daily 10-noon and 2-6; Nov.-Easter, weekends 2-6. |
| Services: | Mass at the Chapel: Mon-Fri 7:30am, 9am, 11am and 5pm; Sat 5pm; Sun 6:30am and 7:30am Mass at the Basilica: Sun 7:30am, 9am, 11am and 5pm |
| Cost: | Free admission to basilica. Observatory EUR1.53. |
