# Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Lyon > The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is a gleaming white church with four towers on Fourvière hill, Lyon's great landmark. It was built in 1872–1896 on the site of the Roman forum, which gave the hill its name. Inside are glittering mosaics on gold and two churches stacked one above the other, and next door a viewpoint with the best view of Lyon, the Rhône and Saône and, on a clear day, Mont Blanc. A funicular climbs up from Vieux-Lyon. Free; allow about an hour. Web page: https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/fourviere-basilica - City: [Lyon](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon), France - YesGo score: 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free; towers and museum by ticket - Hours: Daily by day - Built: 1872–1896 - Visitors: ≈ 2 million a year - Duration: ≈ 1 hour - Location: Fourvière hill above Vieux-Lyon - Coordinates: 45.76229, 4.82256 - Facts checked: 12.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1872** — construction began (source: English Wikipedia) - **2 million** — visitors a year (source: English Wikipedia) - **4** — main towers (source: English Wikipedia) - **1170** — first shrine on the hill (source: English Wikipedia) ## About Fourvière Basilica The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière crowns **Fourvière hill** above Vieux-Lyon and the Saône and Rhône rivers. It's visible from almost anywhere in the city and has long been its symbol. The Romans settled the hill first: the forum of Roman Lugdunum stood here, and the name 'Fourvière' comes from the Latin forum vetus, 'old forum'. A shrine to the Virgin has stood on the hill since **1170**, and the present basilica was built with private donations in **1872–1896** to designs by the architect **Pierre Bossan**. The old chapel survives beside it, its bell tower crowned by a gilded statue of the Virgin. Around two million people visit each year. ## What to see - **The façade** — white stone, four towers and angels. - **The upper church** — mosaics on a gold ground. - **The crypt of Saint Joseph** — the plain lower church. - **The Virgin's chapel** — with the golden statue on its tower. - **The viewpoint** — all of Lyon, with the Alps on the horizon. - **The Museum of Sacred Art** — the basilica's treasures. ## Inside the basilica Bossan combined **Romanesque and Byzantine** styles, an unusual choice at a time when Gothic was the norm. Fourvière is two churches, one above the other. The **upper** one dazzles: walls and vaults covered in mosaics on gold, stained glass casting coloured light across the marble. The **lower**, the crypt of Saint Joseph, is much simpler and quieter. The interior decoration took almost a century to finish, until 1964. Look out for the mosaic panels along the sides of the nave and the carved marble details. A well-known boys' choir sings here, made famous by the film Les Choristes. > **Don't miss** Right behind the basilica is a **viewpoint** with one of the best views of Lyon: the roofs of Vieux-Lyon, the peninsula between the Rhône and Saône, and Croix-Rousse hill. On a clear day the Alps, and even **Mont Blanc**, appear on the horizon. The north tower sometimes opens too, for an even wider view. ## The 'upside-down elephant' and the Festival of Lights Locals have a joking nickname for the basilica: the **'upside-down elephant'**, as the bulky body resembles an elephant and the four towers its legs in the air. Look at it from the Saône quays below and you'll see why. Every year on **8 December** the people of Lyon put candles on their windowsills in honour of the Virgin, the origin of the famous **Festival of Lights**. Today it lasts several days, with light shows on the basilica and buildings across the city drawing visitors from all over Europe. ## Roman Lyon next door A few minutes' walk from the basilica, on the same hillside, are the **Roman theatres** of ancient Lugdunum: a large open-air theatre that hosts the Nuits de Fourvière festival concerts in summer, and a smaller odeon. A museum of Gallo-Roman history stands beside them. From the hill it's easy to walk down through the Rosary garden or the stairways straight into **Vieux-Lyon**, to Saint-Jean Cathedral and the lanes with their traboules. ## The museum and towers The basilica has a **Museum of Sacred Art**: its rooms hold vestments, church plate, paintings and models showing how the church was built. You can learn about the craftsmen behind the mosaics and how the stone was hauled up the hill. From time to time, tours of the roofs and **towers** open to visitors, with an even wider view of Lyon than from the viewpoint. They run in small groups, so check the schedule on the basilica's website in advance. ## How to get there 1. By funicular from Vieux-Lyon–Cathédrale Saint-Jean to Fourvière, 2–3 minutes. 2. To the lower station, metro D to Vieux-Lyon. 3. On foot from Vieux-Lyon, 20–25 minutes up stairs and gardens. 4. By bus to Place de Fourvière. ## Tips for your visit An hour covers the basilica and viewpoint. Ride up by funicular and walk down past the Roman theatres and gardens into Vieux-Lyon. The basilica pairs naturally with [Vieux-Lyon](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/vieux-lyon), right below the hill, and an evening stroll along the Saône, where the basilica is beautifully lit. Dress modestly and don't take photos during services. A level path leads from the funicular to the basilica, easy with a pushchair. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Ride up on the funicular - [ ] See the upper church mosaics - [ ] Go down to the crypt - [ ] Step out onto the viewpoint - [ ] Walk on to the Roman theatres ## Places in Lyon: compare and choose Places in Lyon rated by YesGo. - [Fourvière Basilica](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/fourviere-basilica) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Saint-Jean Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/france/lyon/lyon-cathedral) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free ## Don't mix it up Fourvière Basilica is the church on the hill; Saint-Jean Cathedral is Lyon's cathedral down in Vieux-Lyon. ## Tips - Funicular up. - Walk down. - The view is behind the basilica. - December brings the Festival of Lights. ## Questions ### How do I get to Fourvière Basilica? By funicular from Vieux-Lyon in 2–3 minutes, or on foot. ### Is Fourvière Basilica free? Entry is free; the towers and museum need a ticket. ### How long do I need at Fourvière? About an hour including the viewpoint. ### Where is the best view of Lyon? From the viewpoint behind Fourvière Basilica. ### When is the Festival of Lights? In early December, with 8 December the main day. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. Hours and tower and museum prices weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière - Basilica official website, fourviere.org --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.