#17 Most Beautiful Basilica of France

November 9, 2021: Lyon

F. In many travel forums, in our camping app, and also from many travelers, we have already heard that Lyon is not an easy place for campers. The campsites near the city are very few or nonexistent, and if you do find one, there is a high probability that your car will be broken into. So we decided to drive to a campground just outside the city and stay there for the night. This turned out to be a very good option. We were greeted very friendly at the reception, and after we paid for our spot, we were provided with a city map, bus tickets to the city, and various tips. So it was the all-round carefree package. The bus ride to Lyon city center took about half an hour. It was somehow strange to sit in a vehicle that was not driven by us personally and that we had to share with other people, as we had been driving ourselves or walking for the past 3 weeks.

Our ticket was valid for 60 minutes on all buses and trains. The campground owner gave us the tip to go to the cable car immediately upon arrival in Lyon city center, so that we could make full use of our ticket. Of course, we did that too. However, the cable car was not located on the slope of the mountain as expected, but inside the mountain, so we then crowded into a small slanted wagon and rode up the mountain underground.

Once we arrived at the top, we had a wonderful view over Lyon. Additionally, right next to the cable car station was the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. This monumental building was built from 1872 to 1896. During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71, the citizens of Lyon made a vow to enlarge and beautify the sanctuary of Fourvière (a small chapel) if their city were spared from Prussian occupation. This wish came true, and a large church was built partly with donations from the population starting in 1872. Even today, it is customary to give donations to support the maintenance of the basilica. This is also clearly apparent when you enter the basilica. I have rarely seen such a beautiful and richly decorated church. Mosaic pictures adorned the walls everywhere, extensively decorated with golden mosaic stones. The columns made of black, glossy marble and the many other artfully designed objects made the overall picture an overwhelming sight. The crypt, located below the main church, is almost the same size as the actual main church. So there are basically two churches stacked on top of each other.

After visiting the basilica, we went to the ruins of the ancient amphitheater from Roman times. The larger of the two theaters held up to 26,000 spectators at its peak in the 2nd century, which corresponded to the population of Lyon at that time. Bread and games, I can only say... Nowadays, as with many amphitheaters from this time, only the stage floor and a few rows of seats are preserved, as the theater was used as a quarry over time. Nevertheless, events are still held here annually.

In the old town of Lyon, which is located at the foot of the mountain, you can find many small passageways between the three main streets. These were used by the silk weavers in the past, as this allowed the silk to be transported from A to B even in bad weather. Nowadays, they are the hallways of residential buildings, but if you're lucky, some of the house doors are open, and you can find one or the other "secret passage" through the old town of Lyon. In the middle of such a passage is a light shaft, which is the size of a small courtyard.

We continued to explore Lyon for the rest of the day and discovered a lot between the Rhône and Saône rivers. Among other things, one of the many painted murals of the city.

Day 25 - Total tour 2,207 km

---- Subscribe ----

If you want to subscribe to our blog, you can either sign up with Vakantio and click on subscribe, or send us a message and we will add you to our own distribution list. Of course, we also welcome feedback!

Email: querfeld2@gmail.com