Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière

Walking up here with friends in summer 2024 was pure magic. Step by step, Lyon slowly opens beneath you — and at the top, the city simply takes your breath away. The view is massive, emotional, unforgettable. The basilica feels powerful and calm at the same time. It’s one of those rare places where you stop talking, stop rushing, and just feel the moment. Standing there together, looking over Lyon, is something that stays with you long after you leave. Walk up if you can — the journey matters. Come near sunset, bring water, and give yourself time to simply stand and look

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is absolutely stunning. It’s one of the most beautiful basilicas I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen quite a few. Both the exterior and the interior are breathtaking, with so many beautiful details. The view over Lyon from the basilica is incredible as well. Highly recommend visiting , it’s truly unforgettable.

Arriving late evening in Lyon, our Uber driver took us here on a quick detour to our hotel ‘because it is so very beautiful, and you guys can see view of Lyon skyline from there’. Indeed it was a beautiful Basilica, majestic even in the dark of night. Indeed it was an impressive view of Lyon. Very grateful of him, blessed his soul. I got the chance to go back the next morning, and although did not got the chance to go inside, my appreciation grew even more about the opportunity to visit. A must go when you are in Lyon. If your hotel is not nearby, they have tram from the city center that stops directly in front.

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is one of Lyon’s most iconic landmarks, visible from almost anywhere in the city. Personally, I usually find the interiors of Orthodox churches more spiritual, but this basilica’s interior really amazed me — it’s beautiful and inspiring. The exterior is just as impressive, and the panoramic view over Lyon from the top is fantastic. You can get there easily by tram, or hike up if you prefer (which I’d also recommend). Nearby, the Roman Theatre and archaeological site are free to visit and very well preserved. Both the basilica and the ruins are definitely worth seeing.

Really beautiful. The church is located up on the hilltop. It’s a good 20-30 mins walk up the hill but it’s worth the walk. The designs and colours and pictures in the interior of the church is superbly beautiful and amazing. It’s one of the most beautiful churches I’ve seen. It’s a must visit and entry is free.

A stunning cathedral that looks over the city. Offers amazing views at night too. The walk up is quite a challenge but worth it when you reach the top!

Beautifully located on top of a hill, and Best to take an Uber to get there. There is also a vista point on the side of the church with great views of the whole city. If you can walk down the hill, you can visit a nice museum with an outdoor Greek theatre. You can also take a short cut and walk the stairs down the hill

Beautiful lights show the evenings between Christmas and new years. Was surprisingly easy to take the cable car up to the top, just tap CC at ticketed entrance, easy. And with all the crowd, they really moved well all the people!

Beautiful and stunning, this (minor) basilica sits atop a hill overlooking Lyon proper and rightly so - it dominates the skyline and is a handy reference to orient oneself in "down" town. A funicular will carry you to the top, but if you're reasonably fit, a walk up the steep streets and stairs will be very rewarding by allowing you glimpses of charming neighborhoods, apartments, pocket parks, and gardens. At the basilica itself, you'll encounter the hushed interiors, brilliant stained glass, soaring buttresses, and echoing chambers of the main cathedral, its crypt, and chapels. The site is very well laid out with a cafe, a restaurant, museum, restrooms, information center, gift shop, and a breathtaking panoramic vista of the city, all as part of the basilica grounds. And it's free to visit.

Took the funicular up but you can always walk or ride up the hill. We wanted to check out the whole hill, including the amphitheater ruins but we didn't have time. I would highly suggest doing this because I do have some FOMO for not being able to go. The basilica itself it utterly gorgeous. There are so many things to look at inside. The stained glass and the carvings, I could stare at for hours. The area to the left (facing the church) has the incredible sweeping vista of the city of Lyon and a few places to grab a snack. This is also where the restrooms are if you need them. Seriously though, the views are worth coming up the hill, even if you're not a "church person."

Gorgeous church with the funicular ride stopping right in front of it. Definitely worth the ticket price for the ride rather than walking up.

The trek up the stairs to get to this church was brutal, and I would say I'm in good shape. Once you make it to the top, you are greeted with sweeping views of Lyon. The inside of the church, however, was not that grand. I would come for the views as this is a main attraction, if you can survive the stairs.

Beautiful church with the view of the whole Lyon from up the hill, can take the funicular from old Lyon up for 2 euros

The basilica is definitely worth a visit. It is quite magnificent when compared to the Cathedral de Lyon. The carvings are impressive. There is a plaza to the north that has a gift shop and cafe. The toilettes are also located here. I am impressed that there's an elevator for the mobility impaired. It's located in the north tower and takes you into the main section of the basilica. Tip: take either the funicular from Vieux Lyon or do the hop on and off tour. This is one of the stops, and you have about 40 minutes to explore the cathedral and beautiful views from Fourviere. If you want to spend more time up here, the nearby Roman ruins and museum are worth checking out.

A beautiful cathedral overlooking the city of Lyon. The church is a functioning place of worship so please treat the area with utmost respect. The intricate details on ceilings and walls show how much the people cherish their religion. Downstairs there's a crypt that one can visit. Don't forget to go behind the church to see a beautiful panorama of Lyon. Best way to get here is to take the furnicular.

This basilica is located at top of the hill. Best time to visit is early morning when the church just open. That time the car parking space on top of the hill is still available. The church is beautiful with details carving outside. The church look like a castle on the side. It located next to observatory and museum. Definitely a good place for the view of city Lyon. Driving there up hill is convenient so we don't need to climb. The interior of the church with golden like mosaic painting. The ceilings Golden painting is attractive. Each wall of the church has story painting. It was beautiful. Stain glass let the sunlight in with color reflecting to the floor. The alter and chapel are a good place to worship. This church build late 18th century. It is look new. May be good up keep. It look like Russian Orthodox influence on the painting.

Huge, impressive, lots of Jesus stuff. I really enjoyed the view of Lyon from the lookout point next to the church.

Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is a must visit in Lyon. Located at the top of Fourvière hill, you could walk up the hill but I recommend taking the funicular railway from St Jean metro station in Old Lyon. Open from 7am to 7pm, I came once before work (good time to visit as it is less people) and after work around 6pm for another time. I stayed around 30 minutes each but I could have stayed longer if time permits. Free to enter but I think they restrict group entrance during mass. Since it is located at the hill top, view from here is amazing. Panoramic view of old town Lyon. I came during a day but I bet it is gorgeous at night too. I need to come back to Lyon in winter time.

One of the prettiest basilicas I've seen. Almost all walls are gold plated with great architecture and superb view of Lyon. Only problem, you need a proper hike up, and on a summer day of 32C, I must say you are likely dripping by the time you get to the top! Special mention, they have a picture of a Chinese Jesus/Mary in the church lower level, go have a look.

This visit was included in our two weeks France vacation package from Gate 1. Beautiful church in great condition. The local guide and her knowledge made the visit even more fascinating! Children will probably find the church boring but they will love the views and walking around the immediate area. The only downside is the filthy and inadequate bathrooms at the adjacent visitors center. They are free of charge but that is the only plus. Men's and women's bathrooms lacked paper products, missing and broken toilet seats, broken faucets and broken hand dryers. Considering the volume of tourists the bathrooms desperately need renovation and consistent cleaning.

Amazing. Hike if you can or take the funicular. Amazing place to visit. Go to the top but they only 2/3 times you can enter per day.

Not only do you get the best view of Lyon from up here, but this was easily one of the more gorgeous churches I've seen from the inside. There is such artistry, attention to detail, precision, and beauty. It is truly a work of art. You can take the funicular to get here, but I highly recommend walking up from Vieux Lyon. Depending on which direction you come from, you can check out the Ancient Roman Amphitheater as well which is worth a visit. Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière is a must stop when in Lyon.

Magnifique. Majestic. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MdjM0HZKD-OU59oq8fbp_A?select=aIIBFE27lAac3dSyj-kPwg A brisk sunny afternoon spent with my dear friend Noe and her family... Needless to say...the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière is an orchestrated work of art. I think I could have spent a whole week there and shot a 1000 photos and still not even able to take in half of the beautiful sculptures, stained glass works, architecture, marble work, bronze statues, paintings...etc. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MdjM0HZKD-OU59oq8fbp_A?select=c2tEJKfKHk5m-h3McGFiKQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MdjM0HZKD-OU59oq8fbp_A?select=nDwwZKv7Wq6tJhfpe__oSw One of the beauties of Ancient Roman Catholic Churches are they are in them selves a museum. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MdjM0HZKD-OU59oq8fbp_A?select=MhJ6gt2BAzGZ8wN49a82qw http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MdjM0HZKD-OU59oq8fbp_A?select=sKULlJAlPQ91sULAy68aLA And to be set in this gorgeous city of Lyon... ...Ah, Lyon...cette belle ville ... Je reviendrai. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MdjM0HZKD-OU59oq8fbp_A?select=b7sshYB3QN3skpakykG_YA

This is the Latin Church in the heart of Lyon! Some gorgeous views of Lyon from the courtyard behind the church. It's worth a visit if you're in Lyon.

It's one of the very few attractions in Lyon, so it is basically a must-do. Great view of the city once you take a very strenuous hike up there. Alternatively, if you don't mind paying a few Euros, there is the funicular up as well.

We visited a lot of cathedrals, and basilicas and churches on our trip and this one was average really. The view from up here is alright, but it's just all city-scape. It's not very interesting aside from getting an idea of the sheer size of the city. But the city itself is pretty uniform so it's just a lot of all the same. There's some gardens below that you can walk down the hill through, if it was late spring or summer these would probably be nice.

The Basilique contains the nicest mosaics I've seen in France and probably the best modern mosaics that I've seen anywhere. And the front facade of the church is pretty darn impressive too. It was cold and rainy on the day we visited, so the view wasn't the best, but I'm sure it's lovely on a clear day. FYI, the Basilique is just a short walk from two ancient Roman theaters and Lyon's archaeology museum. The ride up to the Basilique on Fourviere hill using an old funicular is fun, but short.

If you're a European tourist, I'm sure you've been to your share of churches. In 10th grade, I went on a tour of Southern England where we visited a church a day for 15 days. On my first trip to France, I saw Notre Dame de Paris, Sacre Coeur, Chartres Cathedral, and Mont St. Michel in the span of 8 days. The main sight of each city in Tuscany is it's duomo. So, you're probably thinking, why would this church be any different? First, this basilica is relatively knew. Built to make good on a promise if God saved Lyon during the Franco-Prussian war(1870s), this is not your old gray stone and wood church cathedral. There are magnificent mosaics! The view of the city is amazing and totally worth the climb. Go stand by St. Michael's feet and look down on the city. It's one of the best ways to take in Lyon and understand why it was chosen so many centuries ago. #Yelp365 - 197/365

The basilica sits atop of a hill overlooking Lyon. Its exterior and style are very unique. The main part of the basilica is ornate like other cathedrals; the mosaic works on the side are exquisite. One thing that sets this place apart, is the large crypt downstairs that has portraits and statutes of the Madonna from all over the world.

I have never seen any building more beautiful than this Basilique. When we were driving into Lyon I exclaimed "Oh, look at that castle!! We have to go see it!" We weren't even fully in Lyon yet, so I thought the structure was a castle at first. We stayed at a nearby hotel (Hotel Fourviere - a must visit hotel), so the Basilique was a short five minute walk from our hotel. When we first rounded the corner and saw the church my breath was taken. It was a Sunday and apparently mass was just about to begin. The crowd outside was intense. I thought it was all tourists, but it turns out it was church-goers. As a staunch Atheist I thought for sure I'd burn to a crisp once we walked inside. Alas, I wasn't and we sat in the back as the mass took place. Although I am an Atheist and don't believe in any of the religious pomp being served I do enjoy architecture. And this cathedral was absolutely stunning. I cannot recommend a tour of these grounds enough. I have pictures of our visit on my desktop and whenever I see them I am again taken back to this glorious place. Do visit this church. You will never, ever regret it.

I love the place....I love the Sunday mass at the Fourviere Basilique. I always take the funicure to get to the hill, attend the mass, have a look at the wonderful panorma of Lyon, then it takes me just 5 mins to go down to my beloved Vieux Lyon...I popped to the Marche de Creation which is happening every Sunday morning by the river...and i finish the Sunday time for myslef with a lunch in the local bouchon....could you ask for more! Plan to visit ....and you can check for more inspiration at my shopaholicfromhome blog where i share my love for Lyon indeed.

Stop right here! If you have to see one "Church" (this is a basilique) is HAS to be this one! You can visit it from the top (all the way up in the towers) to the bottom (all the way in the crypts). I personally love visiting all kind of religious temples all over when I travel and let me tell you this: YOU LL NEVER SEE ANYTHING LIKE IT! The building isn't own buy neither the church or the government but buy the lyoneses them self so it is really kept in the most amazing shape! The entire thing is renovated as soon as it needs it. The gold decoration will blind you and the stain glass will give a new range of colors to your eyes! The only paying attraction is 6€. It gives you access to the upper levels including the top towers views! It s a semi private tour with 19 people only! So make sure to be there 20/30 minutes before. It is worth so much more then what they ask! The tour guide are so charming knowledgeable and you can tell they love giving the tour! I give it my Best recommendation

Beautiful place and close to stunning views of Lyon. Highly recommend making the uphill-trek. If walking isn't an option, there is also a cable car that will take you from the old town at the bottom of the hill up to the basilica area.

I didn't burst into flames upon entering so most mortal humans should be safe to take a look inside. It's a cool building, great architecture and a lot of history. A nice place to walk around and just think, since most people are quiet in churches.

I enjoyed the cablecar uphill and the serpentine walk down. But the best is the view over the city from the balcony under the cathedral.

This is an impressive church, but what's most impressive about this locale is the view from the parapet outside the church -- it's a gorgeous panorama of the whole city before you, especially beautiful as the sun sets on it. The church itself is a bit on the gaudy side (gilded and ornate), but there are a few gift shops if you're interested in the tourism side of it. You can take a tram up here, or you can walkwe discovered the walking bit by accident, taking some stairs in an alleyway that looked interesting. 30 minutes later, we were panting and confused, but we made the climb up to the top, and did not regret it. There's also a small tower nearby built by Gustave Eiffel, a mini version of the Paris landmark.

Beautiful church overlooking all of Lyon on a hill in Fourvière. Very attractive from below, up close, or inside. Definitely worth the trek up the hill from the funiculaire. You also have a great view of Lyon and the Lyon tower (an Eiffel Tower look-alike) from right next to the church.

Love it and particularly the view of Lyon. It is a beautiful place on a sunny day!