Inside the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière

What may surprise people is the fact that there are actually two churches here in the basilica. And they are one on top of the other. What is immediately seen by any visitor is the first church. We will show where the second church is in a future post. The first church is called a triumphal basilica. This is a design usually used when something good happens. In the case of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, it would be the sparing of Lyon from the invading Prussians. The architect Pierre Bossan would be the one to design an amazing piece of architecture.

Pierre Bossan used an interesting mix of Romanesque and Byzantine architectures to build the new basilica. The interiors were lavishly decorated, fit for Our Lady of Fourvière. As can be seen in the photos, the interiors were primarily Romanesque with the arches. What is immediately obvious is how much gold was used in the structure. It really is a sight to behold. The columns appear to be high, comparable to Gothic structures. There is beautiful stained glass which shines brightly in the morning sky. For a basilica, the church appears to be not that big. There were only two columns of pews and attending services here might be a little difficult since the altar would be quite far.

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