Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Lyon
Lyon, France
About This Activity
Notre-Dame de Fourvière crowns Lyon's oldest hill, built between 1872 and 1884 as a votive offering after France was spared Prussian occupation of the city. Its ornate Byzantine-Romanesque interior is a riot of gold mosaics, marble, and stained glass that locals call 'the upside-down elephant'. The basilica is Lyon's most visited monument and a working pilgrimage site — on 8 December each year the entire city illuminates its windows with candles for the Festival of Lights. Entry is free; the funicular from Vieux-Lyon costs €2.20 each way.
Seasonal note: Year-round; open daily 7 am-7 pm; 8 Dec Festival of Lights is exceptional but very crowded
See This in an Itinerary
This activity appears in 189 of our curated itineraries.
Best 5 Days in France — Temples & Shrines
Paris → Nice → Lyon
Best 5 Days in France — Pilgrimage
Paris → Nice → Lyon
Best 5 Days in France — History & Temples & Shrines
Paris → Nice → Lyon
Best 5 Days in France — History & Temples & Shrines (Saturday Start)
Paris → Nice → Lyon
Best 5 Days in France — History & Temples & Shrines (Sunday Start)
Paris → Nice → Lyon
Best 5 Days in France — History & Temples & Shrines (Monday Start)
Paris → Nice → Lyon
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