The basilica sits on high.The foremost monument in the urban landscape of Lyon, the Fourvière Basilica dominates a large part of the city. The basilica was built between 1872 and 1896 in honour of the Virgin Mary.In 1850, the chapel's bell tower was in danger of collapsing so the religious authorities decided to replace this belltower with a golden statue.Inside the building you'll find sculptures and mosaics that recount the history of saints from Lyon, along with the stories of Joan of Arc and the Virgin Mary.In 1998 the Fourvière Basilica was named a Unesco World Heritage Site alongside the ancient theatre, Roman baths and the Saint Irénée Fort.