Basilica - Notre-Dame de Fourvière (2024)

A human treasure and a strong symbol of the attachment of the whole city to the Virgin Mary.

An emblematic basilica

The basilica Notre-Dame of Fourvière is the work of the architects Pierre Bossan and Sainte-Marie Perrin. It was built thanks to a public subscription in 1872 and consecrated in 1896.
The basilica is at the top of “the hill which prays”. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is listed as a historical monument, registered to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, considered as the emblem of the city of Lyon, the basilica welcomes over 2.5 million pilgrims and visitors each year.

Basilica - Notre-Dame de Fourvière (1)

The basilica is, as children and all those who keep a child’s heart say, The Home of Mary.

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin

An outstanding building

The basilica Notre-Dame of Fourvière is 86 meters long and 35 meters wide. It offers a unique architecture with a byzantine, gothic and romanesque inspiration. It has got 4 towers, 48 meters high, which represent the cardinal virtues :

  • Prudence (North-East tower) and Temperance (South-East tower) facing the city of Lyon.
  • Force (North-West tower) and Justice (South-West tower) dominating the square.

A majestic decor

The inside of Notre-Dame of Fourvière Basilica is composed of 2 churches one upon the other, with extraordinary volumes, accessible from the square. The higher Church is dominated by 3 domes and lit by 6 stained-glass windows offering a light emphasizing a rich decor. The materials used for the building and the decoration rival in quality and beauty, white marble from Carrara, pink granite from the North of Italy, blue marble from Savoy, green onyx, silver and gold pieces, union of ebony and ivory.

Composed of 3 big naves and 3 vaulted spans, gothic arches, the whole of the higher church is supported by 16 columns. There are 8 chapels and the apse is lit thanks to 7 high stained- glass windows. On the side walls 6 large mosaics of 50 square metres, by Charles Lameire et Georges Décote, show, on the left, the link of Mary to the Church and on the right the relationship of Mary with France.

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The House of Mary

The sanctuary Notre-Dame de Fourviere is “the Marian soul of Lyon”. For centuries, it has attracted more than tens of thousands of pilgrims from all around the world. Countless Christians, both inside and outside of France, have recognized the sanctuary as a sacred place of veneration for the Virgin Mary. Rather quickly, in the early churches, Mary’s position became significant.
She is the mother of Jesus who said ‘yes’ to God and welcomed his power and the Holy Spirit.

For the basilica, the art used by the architect Pierre Bossan is combined with the faith, to form a poem to the glory of Mary. His sources of mystical inspiration are the Apocalypse of St. John and the writings of a Spanish nun, Mary of Agreda.

The major spots

Basilica - Notre-Dame de Fourvière (3)

THE ALTAR

The altar presents Mary releasing Adam and Eve from their chains and setting them free from Hell. In its erected position, it gives a throne to the statue of Mary, sculpted by Millefaut.

Basilica - Notre-Dame de Fourvière (4)

THE STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS

The 6 main stained-glass windows were designed by Lameire and Décote. They illustrate the litanies of the Virgin Mary (Queen of the Prophets, Queen of the Patriarchs, Queen of the Martyrs, Queen of the Confessors, Queen of the Angels and Queen of the Apostles).

Basilica - Notre-Dame de Fourvière (5)

The MOSAICS

The themes of the 6 wonderful mural mosaics designed after Bossan’s death are: ” Mary and the Church” (on the Northern side ) and “Mary in the history of France” (on the Southern side).

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The Virgin by Millefaut

As for the ciborium offered by Cardinal Caverot, housing the main altar, Sainte-Marie Perrin got his inspiration from the one at the Val-de-Grace and brought a baroque souvenir. Millefaut was in charge of sculpting a Virgin in order to give this place all its majesty.

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CHAPELS

Eight chapels, so many works designed to represent Mary’s life from Nativity to the Assumption and so many different decor and masterpieces to discover. Works by Larrivé, Castex, Millefaut, Puech, Dufraine, Belloni and Guillaume, made between 1899 and 1943, show a great diversity of inspiration.

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THE STAIRS OF WISDOM

This monumental staircase leads to the high church. A masterpiece of Sainte-Marie Perrin carved out of red marble, it develops with a double revolution. At the top of the stairs, the statue of the Wisdom of Dufraine, welcomes you with these words: “I am present to the learned thoughts, to me is the Justice, to me is the Prudence, to me is the Force”.

Basilica - Notre-Dame de Fourvière (2024)

FAQs

What does Fourvière mean in English? ›

Fourvière translation | French-English dictionary

n. deceit.

Why do tourists visit the basilique de Fourvière? ›

The amazing view above the city. In addition to its religious significance, the Cathedral de Fourvière of Lyon is also a popular tourist attraction. Visitors flock to the church to admire its beauty and take in the stunning views of Lyon. The church is open to the public every day, and admission is free.

How old is the basilica in Lyon? ›

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière was built between 1872 and 1884 to thank the Virgin Mary for having spared the city from invasion during the Franco-Prussian war. It has become one of the major symbols of Lyon, in part thanks to its dominant location on a hill overlooking the city.

What is the history of Fourvière? ›

The name 'Fourvière' is said to be derived from the Latin words 'Forum Vetus' (old forum), as Fourvière Hill was chosen by the Romans to found the town of Lyon in 43 BC. Construction work for the cathedral began in 1872 and it was inaugurated in 1896.

What does Palais mean in England? ›

(British English) ​(in the past) a large public building used for dancing; a dance hall.

What does the word Gaeta mean? ›

Gaeta (Italian: [ɡaˈeːta]; Latin: Cāiēta; Southern Laziale: Gaieta) is a city in the province of Latina, in Lazio, Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is 120 kilometres (75 miles) from Rome and 80 km (50 mi) from Naples. Gaeta.

What is the basilica of Fourvière famous for? ›

An emblematic basilica

It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is listed as a historical monument, registered to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, considered as the emblem of the city of Lyon, the basilica welcomes over 2.5 million pilgrims and visitors each year.

Who is our lady of Fourvière? ›

Fourvière is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, to whom is attributed the salvation of the city of Lyon from the bubonic plague that swept Europe in 1643.

What is the meaning of Notre Dame? ›

Notre Dame, French for "Our Lady", a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, most commonly refers to: Notre-Dame de Paris, a cathedral in Paris, France. University of Notre Dame, a university in Indiana, United States.

What is the oldest part of the city of Lyon? ›

Vieux Lyon ([vjø ljɔ̃], English: Old Lyon) is the largest Renaissance district of Lyon. In 1964, Vieux-Lyon, the city's oldest district, became the first site in France to be protected under the Malraux law to protect France's cultural sites.

How much does it cost to go to the basilica Lyon? ›

You'll find the basilica overlooking Vieux Lyon. It's open daily from 8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Although admission to the basilica is free, the guided rooftop tour, which is highly recommended, costs 7 euros (about $8.30) for adults and 4 euros (about $4.75) for children.

How do I get to Fourvière Hill, Lyon? ›

What to see on Fourvière hill ​ There are two ways to reach the hilltop. Either on foot, which takes a little more time and, above all, effort. Or by taking the metro to Vieux Lyon station and then continuing on the cable car.

What is the highest point in Lyon? ›

Fourvière hill is home to the La Tour Métallique, one of Lyon's most easily recognizable landmarks, which was privately built by the land-owners to rival the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It forms the highest point in Lyon and is in fact higher than the Eiffel Tower at its summit, due to it being on a hill.

Where does the funicular go in Lyon? ›

Funicular Up To Fourvière Hill

Both start at Saint-Jean. One takes you to Notre Dame de Fourvière and the other to Saint-Just with a stop at the Théâtre Romain ( the ancient Roman amphitheatre). I took the one to Notre Dame.

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