Get a bird's eye view of Lyon's Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica

At 318 metres, the Colline de Fourvière is the highest point in Lyon. Accessible after a short stroll from Vieux Lyon or via the famous "ficelles lyonnaises", the view will soon make you forget the effort you've put in! Welcome to the hill that prays, opposite the hill that works. The distant horizon over the Alps will be available to travellers on fine days, but if the weather takes its toll, the panorama of Lyon remains unobstructed from Fourvière.

A little cultural background: Lugdunum, which translates as "hill of light", was the ancient name of the city of Lyon in 43 BC. The city, founded by a Roman legate named Lucius Munatius Plancus, was actually located on the hill of Fourvière. Since then, the city has been called Lyon and has changed a great deal, although a few vestiges remain.

Although "ficelle" is generally associated with a thin rope or a variety of long, thin loaves of bread, this is not the case in Lyon. In fact, the people of Lyon tend to say that they go "la ficelle". Translation: they go to the Vieux Lyon district, to Saint-Jean, to visit the heights of the city via the funicular, one of Lyon's flagship means of transport. To take the funicular up to the heights of the city, go to Gare Vieux Lyon - Cathédrale Saint-Jean. The return ticket costs €3 and can be bought from a vending machine at the station.

Here's a little trivia: because of its rugged topography, the city of Lyon once had 5 funicular railways linking the lower districts to Fourvière and Croix-Rousse. Only 2 remain and are open to the public today.

With its unique architecture, the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière is not associated with any particular style. Four corner towers enclose this stone structure overlooking Lyon, and as soon as you step into the porch, the decor becomes even more stunning! Profuse gilding, dazzling colours, omnipresent mosaics and dazzling stained glass windows immerse visitors in a unique atmosphere.

The Basilica is divided between the upper church, which is highly decorated, and the lower church, the crypt, which is much more sober. Statues of Virgins from all over the world adorn this dark place, marked by its majestic vaults.

To get back into the swing of things in Old Lyon, a stroll in the fresh air of the Rosaire Gardens is a must, weather permitting. As far as Saint-Jean, lookouts, terraces and esplanades mean you won't miss a single snippet of the visual spectacle of Lyon.

Take a trip back in time, two millennia, with a visit to the ancient theatre. With a capacity of 10,000, this venue for comedy and tragedy is the pride of the capital of Gaul. To understand its history, the Gallo-Roman Museum is located on the Fourvière hill on the site of the ancient theatre. It's an archaeological goldmine, and every child in Lyon has already been on a school trip there!

⭐ Apartment on the heights of Vieux Lyon