Fourvière in Lyon is the site of the old Roman settlement of Lugdunum, situated on the hills just northeast of Vieux Lyon. Today, the hills of Fourvière offer a sweeping view of the city below and its rivers.
The main attraction in this district is the 19th century Basilique de Notre Dame de Fourvière that sits atop the Fourvière hill overlooking Vieux Lyon and dominating Lyon’s skyline. This basilica with its pomp mock-Byzantine style architecture is the symbol of the city. The interior is laid out with marble and mosaics and a climb up the 287 steps to the basilica’s observatory gives way to a panorama of the city.
Just as impressive as the Basilique de Notre Dame are the two ruined Roman theaters just down from the hilltop of Fourvière. The larger Grand Théatre was built in 15 BC with a capacity seating of 10,000; it is the oldest Roman theatre in France. The smaller Odéon Roman theatre was designed for poetry and music performances and today hosts the Lyon International Arts Festival each year.
Close to the two Roman theatres is the Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine (Gallo-Roman Civilization Museum), which showcases the excavated statues, tombstones, mosaics, vases, coins, and other ancient Roman items. The highlight of the museum is the bronze Table Claudienne, which has inscribed on it Emperor Claudius’s conferral of senatorial rights to Roman citizens of Gaul. The inscription dates back to around 48 AD.
Further up north in the district is the Tour Métallique (Metal Tower), which was built in 1893 and now used as TV transmitter. It has a stone staircase at the tower’s foot, the Montée Nicolas de Lange that leads to the Basilica.
Attractions
Basilique de Notre Dame de Fourvière
Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine
Théatres Romains
Tour Métallique | 
