NOTRE-DAME DE FOURVIÈRE BASILICA

Of "late" construction (late 19th century), the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière has become the first symbol of Lyon. Dominating the city from the top of the "hill that prays", the basilica fascinates and intrigues by its whiteness and its unusual lines for a religious building, giving it the affectionate title "elephant turned upside down". The imposing building was built on the site of a Marian sanctuary on which was built a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin. The shrine had to be enlarged over the centuries due to the growing success of the pilgrimage to Mary. In 1870, Archbishop Jacques Ginoulhiac vowed to enlarge the shrine if the town was spared by the Prussian armies. As the city was spared, the first stone of the building designed by the architect Pierre-Marie Bossan was laid on 7 December 1872. Fourvière is a real "mystical citadel" made of rough stones, flanked by four towers giving it the appearance of a fortress of faith. It is also a lacework of finely chiselled stones, provided with an abundant decoration of mosaics, all inserted in a Byzantine style little used in France. From the dark crypt to the luminous church, the visitor is offered a whole symbolic journey. While the decorations were far from being completed - they would not be until 1964, a century after work began! -the consecration of Notre-Dame de Fourvière took place on 16 June 1896. Today, the basilica remains the most visited monument in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. To reach Fourvière, prefer the metro (funicular from Vieux Lyon), as parking spaces are rare. When leaving the metro, Fourvière impresses the visitor with its white western facade. From the square, you can access the two churches that make up the building. The lower church, which is not really a crypt, offers a real path like a pilgrimage. The upper church, accessible by double flight of stairs, has mosaics telling the story of the Virgin Mary. The Fourvière museum, currently under renovation, houses superb pieces of sacred goldsmithery. Another must-see is the visit of the Roofs of Fourvière. After climbing 345 steps, the visitor reaches paradise by walking on the roofs of the basilica, discovering the backstage. The panorama that opens up up there is fantastic. Fourvière, the most beautiful "vision" of Lyon.