Exploring the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière

Back then Fourvière Hill was the place to be when it comes to Lyon. The ancient Romans decided to built theaters here which would indicate the importance of this place. In fact, much of old Lyon is located here. One of the major landmarks of Fourvière Hill is the impressive Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. The current basilica isn’t the first church to be built here. There was an old shrine which is frequented by pilgrims. It has been rebuilt over the years and the old structure’s parts have been incorporated into the new structure. The current basilica is the latest structure in this long line of reconstructions.

The shrine was Fourvière Hill is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She has been credited in interceding to save Lyon from multiple impending disasters. The list is actually quite impressive. In the 1600s, bubonic plague was sweeping across Europe. The people asked for the intercession of Mary to spare them from the scourge and they were. In the Franco-Prussian war, with Paris already taken, the people again turned to the Blessed Virgin Mary to help spare them from the invading Prussians. The invading Prussians eventually retreated, again, sparing the city from disaster. This time around the towns people decided to build a basilica in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and thus was built the modern Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

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