Beautiful basilica with stunning views of the city from the hill. Can get a little crowded but…read morestill can find a spot to enjoy the view. A definite must see if in Lyon.

Took the funicular up but you can always walk or ride up the hill. We wanted to check out the…read morewhole hill, including the amphitheater ruins but we didn't have time. I would highly suggest doing this because I do have some FOMO for not being able to go. The basilica itself it utterly gorgeous. There are so many things to look at inside. The stained glass and the carvings, I could stare at for hours. The area to the left (facing the church) has the incredible sweeping vista of the city of Lyon and a few places to grab a snack. This is also where the restrooms are if you need them. Seriously though, the views are worth coming up the hill, even if you're not a "church person."

From the owner: Station de tramway La station est située sur la ligne T1 reliant Montrochet à la Feyssine.read more

Some of these churches can be a little tricky when determining how old they are because apparently,…read morethey started building this church during the middle ages and only finished it in the 19th century. Mind you, considering that it isn't a particularly large church, it does make me wonder why it took so long, but maybe it had something to do with them having money problems. Still, it is a rather lovely church, and like a lot of these churches, the artwork inside is absolutely amazing. Oh, one of the more modern aspects of this church is that the stations of the cross have been redone with a much more modern, 21st Century feel about it.

From the owner: Des clochers en forme de flèches Les flèches des clochers de cette église sont facilement…read morerepérables dans le paysage urbain lyonnais. Attestée à l'époque carolingienne, l'église Saint-Nizier est édifiée en grande partie aux 14e et 15e siècles. Elle représente, face à la primatiale Saint Jean, l'église des bourgeois. La deuxième moitié du 16e siècle voit les travaux s'accélérer avec la construction du portail renaissance (1579). L'aspect actuel de l'édifice tient beaucoup aux travaux de l'architecte Benoît au 19e siècle (clocher sud). A l'arrière du chevet, les galeries de boutiques datent également du début du 19e siècle.

From the owner: L'édifice du Pape Pascal II Consacrée par le Pape Pascal II en 1107, la Basilique d'Ainay a subi…read moredepuis de nombreuses modifications. Ne pas rater la frise d'animaux sur la corniche entre le 2ème et 3ème étage. A l'intérieur, les chapiteaux romans réprésentent Adam et Eve, l'Annonciation, le Christ en majesté.Son clocher-porche est une des "icônes" du patrimoine lyonnais : probablement fondée avant l'époque carolingienne, l'abbaye d'Ainay joua un rôle considérable dans l'histoire lyonnaise au Moyen Age avant de connaître le déclin. Figurant sur la première liste de monuments "classés" par Prosper Mérimée en 1840, elle connut au XIXe siècle d'importantes rénovations : comme le note l'inspecteur général des monuments historiques dès sa première visite (1834), "l'architecte, dans sa restauration, a copié assez exactement ce qui restait de l'édifice ancien [...] On doit lui savoir gré [...] d'avoir conservé tous les anciens fragments de l'abbaye qu'il a pu réunir".

Grand cathedral in the heart of the old town. We happened to come as they were doing a medieval…read morerenaissance festival and that made the setting so much more memorable.

Beautiful cathedral, both inside and out! It's a wonderful complement to the Basilica de Notre…read moreDame de Fourvière. Be aware that this church is closed for lunch between noon and 2 pm but it's well worth scheduling a visit. Soaring interior, brilliant stained glass windows - and a very unique treat is that it holds within a fully operational mechanical (astrological) clock dating from 1661. On the hour, every hour, it will chime and its clockwork animatronics will swing into action Truly a 17th century Disney-like delight! A must-see for sure.

This church seemed to be undergoing some restoration when I was passing by, and they also seemed to…read morebe having mass as well (in French). Fortunately, I returned at a later time and the church was still open (and mass had ended), so that meant that I was able to look around. Sure, it might not be one of the grandest churches in the city, but it still has the charm that you would expect from a European church, particularly one in France. I certainly liked it, and yeah, it's definitely one that I would be recommending looking around, but that is generally because I do like these old churches, and the art within.

From the owner: Une église dépouillée Sur la place des "Cordeliers" s'élevait à la fin du Moyen Age un couvent…read morefranciscain dont subsiste l'église, elle aussi protégée dès 1840 par Prosper Mérimée.Saint Bonaventure fut une gloire de l'ordre franciscain. Le dépouillement et la simplicité de cette église témoignent du respect des fils de Saint François pour toutes les formes de la pauvreté. Elle est aujourd'hui en plein coeur commercial de la ville.