Vieux Lyon - Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière

High above Vieux Lyon, and visible from other areas of Central Lyon are two landmarks.

Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière (La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière) and
Metallic tower of Fourvière
(Tour métallique de Fourvière)

Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière (French: Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière) is a minor basilica in Lyon. It was built with private funds between 1872 and 1884 in a dominant position overlooking the city. The site it occupies was once the Roman forum of Trajan, the forum vetus (old forum), thus its name (as an inverted corruption of the French Vieux-Forum).

Fourvière is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, to whom is attributed the salvation of the city of Lyon from the bubonic plague, the Black Death, that swept Europe in 1643. Each year in early December (December 8, day of the Immaculate Conception), Lyon thanks the Virgin for saving the city by lighting candles throughout the city, in what is called the Fête des Lumières or the Festival of Lights. The Virgin is also credited with saving the city a number of other times, such as from a Cholera epidemic in 1832, and from Prussian invasion in 1870.

During the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1), Prussian forces, having taken Paris, were progressing south towards Lyon. Their halt and retreat were, once again, attributed by the Church to the intercession of the Virgin Mary.

Speculating on the reasons for the construction of such an elaborate and expensive building, one author makes the statement that: "The reaction to the communes of Paris and Lyon were triumphalist monuments, the Sacré-Coeur of Montmartre and the basilica of Fourvière, dominating both cities. These buildings were erected with private funds, as gigantic ex-votos, to thank God for victory over the socialists and in expiation of the sins of modern France."

Perched on top of the Fourvière hill, the basilica looms impressively over the city of Lyon, from where it can be seen from many vantage points; not unintentionally, the Basilica of Fourvière has become a symbol of the city. The Basilica, which offers guided tours and contains a Museum of Sacred Art, receives 2 million visitors annually. At certain times, members of the public may access the basilica's north tower for a spectacular 180-degree view of Lyon and its suburbs. On a clear day, Mont Blanc, the highest point in Europe, can be seen in the distance.

The design of the basilica, by Pierre Bossan, draws from both Romanesque and Byzantine architecture, two non-Gothic models that were unusual choices at the time. It has four main towers, and a belltower topped with a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary. It features fine mosaics, superb stained glass, and a crypt of Saint Joseph.

Fourvière actually contains two churches, one on top of the other. The upper sanctuary is very ornate, while the lower is a much simpler design. Work on the triumphant basilica was begun in 1872 and finished in 1884. Finishing touches in the interior were not completed until as late as 1964.

Bossan's first sketches for the basilica seem to date from 1846. At the time he was in Palermo.

The basilica has acquired the local nickname of "the upside-down elephant", because the building looks like the body of an elephant and the four towers look like its legs.

View from Place Bellecour.

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Taken in: France / Rhône-Alpes / Lyon (show map)

Taken on: June 2, 2017

Tags:

Lyon

France

Bourgogne

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Metropolis of Lyon

Rhone-Alpes

Vieux Lyon

UNESCO

World Heritage Site

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière

La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière

Pierre Bossan

Romanesque and Byzantine architecture style

Place Bellecour

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flags

EU flag

French flag

France flag

tree

trees

Fourvière

UNESCO Classified Place « less

Sets appears in: • Place Bellecour and Place Antonin Poncet, Lyon • Fourvière Lyon more » • Vieux Lyon • Lyon « less

Groups appears in: • Churches, Chapels, Domes, Mosques, Temples, Shrines and Monaster • Churches of the World more » • Cathédrales, églises, abbayes « less

Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ72, f/5.3, 1/1300 sec, 25.8mm, ISO 160 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Panasonic DMC-FZ72
Aperture:	f/5.3
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/1300)
Focal Length:	25.8mm
ISO:	160
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Ver.1.0
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