Basilica of Fourviere

The name Fourvière is thought to derive from the Latin “Forum Vetus,” meaning “old forum,” as the Fourvière hill was the site chosen by the Romans for the founding of Lyon in 43 B.C.

Construction began in 1872 thanks to a public fundraising campaign; it was inaugurated in 1896, but the interior decoration work was not completed until after World War II. Since the Lyon architect Pierre Bossan (1814–1888) died before construction was completed, his disciple Louis Sainte-Marie Perrin (1835–1917) oversaw the completion of the project.

A mystical citadel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it features four corner towers representing the four cardinal virtues (Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice).
Inside, it features a very rich interior decoration, using materials such as white Carrara marble, pink granite from northern Italy, blue Savoy marble, green onyx, flecks of silver and gold, ebony, and ivory. There is also a cycle of six wall mosaics, totaling 50 square meters, depicting the history of the Virgin Mary in the history of France and the history of the Church.

The monumental double-helix Staircase of Wisdom connects the upper church to the crypt.

The crypt, dedicated to St. Joseph, is more austere than the upper church. In fact, it is more of a lower church than a crypt in the classical sense of the term, since it is not entirely underground and is partially lit by tall windows adorned with stained glass. Its floor area is the same as that of the upper church.
It houses a statue of “St. Joseph with the Child” by Fabish and stained-glass windows by Bégule depicting the symbols of the Eucharist. On the floor of the sanctuary, mosaics depict the seven deadly sins, which visitors tread upon to symbolize the victory of good over evil.

The basilica is 86 meters long and 35 meters wide. Its height at the top of the towers is 48 meters.
Its organ was built in 1896 by Michel Merklin and restored in 1996.

Adjacent to the basilica, the Chapel of the Virgin was built in 1174, demolished during the Wars of Religion, then rebuilt, and restored in 2007. Its Baroque altar bears the signature of Delamonce.
Inside, visitors can see a stained-glass window depicting the aldermen’s vow (1643), created by Bégule.

A bronze statue of John Paul II blessing the city during his visit to Lyon in October 1986 (3.05 m tall), created by Elisabeth Cibot, was erected on October 4, 2011, on the basilica’s forecourt.

An unusual rooftop tour is included with the Lyon City Card.