Fourvière

Fourvière is a historic hill in Lyon, France, rising above the Saône on the western edge of the city center. It is a defining landscape for Lyon and is notable for the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, as well as the remains of the ancient city of Lugdunum that give the site its deep historical context.

The hill has long been associated with Lyon’s origins. In antiquity it overlooked Lugdunum, the Roman city founded in the 1st century BCE. On and around Fourvière are remains of Roman public buildings, including a large theatre and an odeon, as well as baths and other structures. The on-site Gallo-Roman Museum preserves artifacts from the site and the broader region.

Notre-Dame de Fourvière, the major landmark on the hill, was constructed between 1872 and 1896 under the direction of architect Pierre Bossan. The church is styled in a Romano-Byzantine manner and is flanked by two towers. A gilded statue of the Virgin Mary crowns the complex, which houses mosaics, chapels, and stained glass that contribute to its distinctive interior atmosphere.

Today, Fourvière remains a major tourist and cultural destination. It is connected to Lyon’s historic center by a funicular railway, and visitors are drawn by the panoramic views over the city as well as by the historical and religious significance of the basilica and the ancient ruins that lie on the hill.