This place is my absolute favourite and I would highly recommend everyone coming to Lyon to take the time to visit Fourviere!
The Fourviere Hill is the oldest neighbourhood of Lyon. Indeed, the Romans built Lyon -called at the time Lugdunum – on this hill. It is located on the west part of the Lyon. The name Fourviere comes from the Latin Forum Vetus which means “old Forum”. The Roman Forum was a public square, which was used most of the time as a marketplace and was considered as the heart of the city. Nowadays, one of the most iconic buildings of Lyon has replaced it: the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere. The erection work started in 1872 and the church was inaugurated in 1896. However, the inside artwork will only be finished after the Second World War. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary to thank her for having saved the city from the plague in 1643. The basilica is 86 meters long and 35 meters wide. Its height at the top of the tower is 48 meters. Settled on top of the hill, the basilica can be seen from numerous different places in Lyon and has become one of the symbols of the city. A 3-meter high bronze statue of Jean-Paul II has been erected in 2011 in front of the basilica to remember its venue in 1986 and the blessing he gave to the city. Each year, over 2,5 millions of visitors visit the Fourviere Basilica. Fourviere Hill benefits as well of a magnificent viewpoint on the whole city, where most tourists go to admire the beauty of Lyon and take pictures after visiting the Basilica.
Lyon: The Hidden Gem 