Notre-Dame de Fourvière

The Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière is a basilica in Lyon. Built with private funds between 1872 and 1896 in a dominating position in the city, as a mark of the triumph of Christian values over the socialists of the Lyon commune of 1870, ["The reaction to the communes of Paris and Lyon were triumpalist monuments, the Sacré-Coeur of Montmartre and the basilica of Fourvière, dominating both cities. These buildings were erected using private funds, as gigantic ex-votos, thanking God for the victory over the socialists and in expiation of the sins of modern France." (Bertrand Taithe, "Citizenship and Wars: France in Turmoil, 1870-1871", chapter "Religious Identities and Citizenship" 2001:100).] like the similarly-inspired Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, Paris, its unusual design, by Pierre Bossan, draws from both Romanesque and Byzantine architecture, two non-Gothic models that were unusual choices at the time. It features fine mosaics, superb stained glass, [The stained-glass window depicting Marshal Pétain that was installed during the Nazi occupation of Vichy France was removed after the war. (Marianne Mahn-Lot, reviewing Renée Bedarida, "Les Catholiques dans la Guerre, 1939-1945" (Hachette) 1999, in "Le Mouvement social", No. 206, Au Bonheur Des Allemands Consommateurs et consommation au XXe siècle [January - March 2004:146-148] p. 147.] and a crypt of Saint Joseph. It draws 1.5 million visitors each year, offering guided tours and a Museum of Sacred Art [ [http://www.fourviere.org/english.php Fourvière Basilica] ]

Bossan's first sketches for the basilica seem to date from 1846, following the bi-centennial. At the time he was in Palermo. [ [http://www.pointsdactu.org/article.php3?id_article=965 Bibliothèque municipale de Lyon] ] .

The site it occupies was once the Roman forum of Trajan, the "forum vetus", thus its name. Perched atop the Fourvière hill, the basilica looms impressively over the city of Lyon, where it can be seen from many vantage points; not unintentionally, the basilica of Fourvière has become a symbol of the city of Lyon. The Basilique has four main towers, and a belltower. It is topped with a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary.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. Fourvière actually contains two cathedrals, one on top of the other. The upper sanctuary is very ornate, while the lower is a much simpler design. Fourvière is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who is said to have saved the city of Lyon from the plague in 1643. A small church was erected in gratitude, to which the gilded statue of the Virgin was added in the mid-nineteenth century, to mark the bi-centennial. On the 8th of December, the city thanks the Virgin for saving the city by lighting candles in all their windows, the "Fête de Lumière".

During the Franco-Prussian War, the Prussians, having taken Paris, were progressing south, towards Lyon. Their halt and retreat were attributed by the Church to the intercession of the Virgin Mary once more. Work on the triumphant basilica was begun in 1872 and finished in 1884. Finishing touches in the interior were not completed until 1964.Since 1982 the antennas of Radio Fourvière, the predecessor of RCF (Radios Chrétiennes en France) Lyon have been sited in the tower. Notre-Dame de Fourvière was included when the whole historic center of Lyon was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.

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