Fourviere Basilica

The city fathers vowed in 1870 that if Lyon were spared invasion they would build a church on Fourviere, and the basilica went up between 1872 and 1884 in a mixture of Romanesque and Byzantine forms, with four corner towers and an interior of mosaic, marble and gilt so dense that it takes a while to focus on anything. A plainer crypt sits underneath. The terrace beside it gives the standard view of Lyon, the two rivers and, on clear days, Mont Blanc. The hill is where Roman Lugdunum stood, and two theatres survive on the slope below along with a museum of Gallo-Roman finds.

What you actually see

• The mosaic interior - walls covered in gilt, marble and mosaic panels.
• The terrace view - Lyon, the Rhone and Saone, and the Alps on clear days.
• The Roman theatres - two ancient theatres cut into the hillside below.
• The rooftop tour - a guided climb onto the roofs and galleries.

When to go

Year-round; the basilica is free and open daily. Rooftop tours run in season and need booking. Clear winter days give the Mont Blanc view. The 8 December light festival centres partly on the hill.

Honest expectations

The funicular queues at peak times and the walk up is steep. The interior divides opinion sharply between overwhelming and overdone. Rooftop tours are limited and in French.

Nearby

Vieux Lyon lies below; the Gallo-Roman museum is beside the theatres.