Sacred Destinations

Notre-Dame-de-Fourviere, Lyon


Rooftop and towers of the basilica high above Lyon. Photo Creative Commons License romaryka.


Facade of the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere. Photo Creative Commons License Tim Chen.


East end of the basilica, overlooking the city. Photo Creative Commons License Tim Chen.


West front of the basilica by night. Photo Creative Commons License Romain Guy.


A lion guards the entrance. Photo Creative Commons License Tim Chen.

Interior
Golden interior of Notre-Dame-de-Fourviere. Photo Creative Commons License Diego Cupolo.


Closer look at the gilded vault. Photo Creative Commons License dek.

Location map and aerial view of Notre-Dame-de-Fourviere. For a larger interactive view, see our Lyon Map.




The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière sits high atop the Fourvière Hill in Lyon, France. It was built between 1872 and 1876 in a neo-Byzantine style and offers a magnificent view over the city.

History

Like the 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 and the birth of the anticlerical Third Republic. Both basilicas also have in common a neo-Byzantine style and hilltop site.

The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière was built between 1872 and 1876 over an ancient Roman forum and next to the existing Chapel of the Virgin. It was designed by architect Pierre Bossan of Lyon, who also designed the city's Église Saint-Georges.

What to See

Visible from all over the city, the gleaming white Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière rises like a fortress on Fourvière Hill, with slender turrets on its four corners and crenellated walls. A gilded statue of the Virgin surmounts the bell tower.

This relatively austere exterior contrasts with the richly decorated interior, which was intended to demonstrate the Church's wealth and power (although in reality, it had only the former). Gilt, marble work, stained glass windows, and colored mosaics cover virtually every surface. Beneath the main level is the crypt of Saint-Jean, which is unusually large and well-lit.

Adjoining the basilica is the ancient Chapel of the Virgin and a terrace that provides a panoramic view of the cathedral and city of Lyon. An even better view can be had by climbing 287 steps to the basilica observatory.

Also nearby are the gardens of Rosaire, designed by Bossan, and the pleasant Hauteurs Park.

Quick Facts

Site Information
Names: Notre-Dame-de-Fourviere; Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière; Fourvière Basilica; Notre-Dame Basilica; Basilica of Our Lady of Fourvière
Location:Lyon, France
Faith:Christianity
Denomination:Catholic
Dedication:Virgin Mary
Category: Churches
Architecture: Neo-Byzantine
Date:1872-76
Architect:Pierre Bossan
Status:active
Visitor Information
Address:8 Place de Fourvière, Fourvière, 69005 Lyon, France
Coordinates: 45.762149° N, 4.822419° E   (view on Google Maps)
Lodging:View hotels near this location
Phone:04-78-25-51-82
Website:www.fourviere.org
Opening hours:Basilica: Daily 8am-7pm
Observatory: Easter-Oct, daily 10-noon and 2-6; Nov-Easter, weekends 2-6
Cost:Basilica admission: free
Guided tour: €2
Museum of Religious Art: €5
Treasury: €5
Official tours:Apr-Nov, Mon-Sat: 9:30am, 10:30am, 11:30am, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm; Sun: 3pm, 4pm, 5pm
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

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Travel Resources

Article Sources

  1. Personal visit (October 2004).
  2. Notre-Dame de Fourviere - Planetware
  3. Basilique de Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière - Fodor's France


Last updated on September 30, 2009.






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