Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica was constructed on Fourvière hill, a highpoint of Lyon, where the city can be seen in many directions, especially from the north tower. Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest mountain, can also be seen on a cloudless day. (clemMtravel)
The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, constructed between 1872 and 1896, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The locals believe Mary saved the city of Lyon from the Black Plague in 1643, cholera in 1832, and the Prussian invasion in 1870.
After the Franco–Prussian War the following year, the people of Lyon chose to make their devotion to Mary better known through the construction of a new church. Built with private funding, the church was set on top of Fourvière Hill on the site of a Roman forum; the word “fourvière” is derived from the Latin “forum vetus,” or “old forum.”
Like the Sacré-Coeur in Paris, the basilica in Lyon was built to hold back the growth of socialist communes. Its construction marked a return to religion and tradition.
French architect Pierre Bossan and his assistant Louis Sainte-Marie Perrin designed the church in the historicism style, an architectural trend combining different architectural styles. Developed in 19th-century Europe, historicism is also known as revivalist or eclectic architecture. Bossan designed Fourvière in the Neo-Byzantine style (round arches, vaults, domes, and decorative mosaics), adding some Gothic and Romanesque touches.
The design features four towers, a central dome, and two churches consisting of a lower crypt and an upper church. The lower structure acts as a shrine to St. Joseph, and the upper church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The upper church is particularly impressive with its three naves, Byzantine vaulted ceilings, and Gothic arches supported by 16 Romanesque columns. It also features six wall mosaics created by painters Charles Lameire and Georges Décote.
Sitting on top of the Fourvière hill, also known as "the praying hill," the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière crowns Lyon. Known by locals as the upside-down elephant, as the building looks like an elephant with its legs up, the basilica is composed of four octagonal towers and a bell tower featuring a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary. The battlements (the upper wall parts) symbolize the four cardinal virtues and are named as such: Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, and Temperance. (prochasson Frederic/Shutterstock)
A white façade adorns the basilica. Two towers, Fortitude and Justice, face the square. The tower of Justice on the right depicts David and Goliath, and the left tower depicts the Judgement of Solomon. A triangular pediment links the towers, evoking the Virgin’s intercession in stopping the 1643 plague. Under the carved frieze, the upper gallery is supported by columns in the form of caryatids, or sculpted angels, sword in hand to reinforce the defensive aspect of the basilica. At the top of the steps, a bronze door represents Noah’s Ark and the Ark of the Covenant, and a winged lion statue, the emblem of Lyon, guards the entrance to the lower church, or crypt. (prochasson Frederic/Shutterstock)
The lower church, or underground crypt, is dedicated to St. Joseph, the Virgin’s husband. The architect believed that pilgrims had to pass Joseph to reach Mary, transitioning from the darkness of the crypt into the light of the main church. More than just the upper church's foundation, the crypt is a church of its own, with an altar surrounded by elaborate Neo-Byzantine mosaics, elegant statues, and marble columns. (Gimas/Shutterstock)
The Neo-Byzantine style inspired the central nave of the higher church with its rich, opulent decor. The church is decorated with white Carrara marble, pink granite from Northern Italy, blue marble from Savoy, and other noble materials such as green onyx, silver, gold, ebony, and ivory. Gold mosaics cover the church from floor to ceiling. The Neo-Gothic style is noticeable with the three vaulted spans, the stained-glass windows, and the Gothic arches, which are supported by 16 carved columns. (Lamax/Shutterstock)
One of the three cupolas (dome-like structures) representing the Virgin Mary and the Holy Trinity is surrounded by gilded angels. Gold and turquoise mosaics made with different types of marble and hard stone decorate the dome. These form geometric and floral patterns, which are typical of the Neo-Byzantine style. (Gimas/Shutterstock)
Most of the church’s iconography celebrates the Virgin Mary and retells her story. This wall mosaic presents Mary’s divine motherhood, surrounded by kings and angels. Gold and silver leaves highlight the sacred scene. So do turquoise and gold tiles, which are typical features of the Neo-Byzantine style. (Franck Legros/Shutterstock)
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