HISTORICAL STRUCTURE : Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere

      If there is something you can not miss when you are visiting Lyon, my hometown in France, it is the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. By its dominating position on top of Fourvière Hill, the Basilica can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. After many years, it became a iconic building and a real symbol of Lyon.

      In 1168, a little chapel was built on the top of Fourvière Hill by Olivier de Chavannes, dedicated to Saint Thomas and then, to the Virgin Mary. Due to an increasing number of pilgrims in this chapel, Cardinal Bonald decided to build a new church. The construction began in December 1872, following the design of the architect Pierre Bossan, drawn from both Romanesque and Byzantine architecture. The basilica contains two churches, one on top of the other. While the lower is simply designed, the upper sanctuary is very ornate, with a lot of beautiful mosaics, sculptures and stained glass. The monument was completely finished almost a hundred years after, in 1964 and became a basilica through the benediction of Pope Léon.

      In addition to being a gorgeous church, this place is really special for every Lyon citizens because of a lot of mystical stories. All over the years, three major wishes were made in this place, and all were achieved. The first happened in 1630 when the french queen Anne d'Autriche, the Louis XIII's wife, could not have a baby and decided to come to Fourvière and pray to the Virgin Mary. A miracle came 8 years after and Louis XIV was born. I think the most important and famous story happened in 1643, while a cholera wave was killing the population of the city. Another wish was made to the Virgin Mary, to protect the city and stop the massacre. Twenty days after, the virus was gone, and the city was safe again. The last story happened in 1870, during the Franco-Prussian war. The Prussian army, was progressing south towards Lyon, and a wish was made at Fourvière by Monseigneur Ginoulhiac to the Virgin Mary, to prevent the occupation of Lyon. The Prussian never took the city and after this victory, the basilica was dedicated to Mary.

      Time changed but nowadays, the basilica of Fourvière is still a place where people come to pray or confess, but it is also a tourist attraction which receives around 1.5 million visitors every year. Guided tours are organized and you can also visit the Museum of Sacred Art, or just admire the spectacular 180-degree view of Lyon and its suburbs. There is also big traditional event related to this iconic building. Lyon citizens still thank the Virgin Mary for saving them by lightening candles throughout the city every 8th of March. We call it the Festival of Lights and people from all over the country come to see it.

      As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, The basilica of Fourvière will continue to attract tourists from all over the world. The building is in renovation since 2008 to keep the magic going, and with the Virgin Mary as protector, Lyon can build its future serenely.

View from the Basilica

The upper sanctuary