Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière
Lyon's residents call it the upside-down elephant, and once someone has pointed out the four stout corner towers as legs, the nickname is hard to unsee. The basilica crowns Fourvière hill, and the quickest way up is the funicular from Vieux Lyon, known locally as la ficelle, the string. Inside, the pale stone exterior gives way to walls and vaults covered in mosaics, with a crypt below that matches the church's footprint and hosts concerts by candlelight. Expect a queue for the funicular at busy times, though the ride itself takes only a couple of minutes. Every 8 December a procession of lantern carriers climbs the hill, which is the oldest and quietest strand of Lyon's famous festival of light. Before leaving, walk to the railing at the edge of the terrace, where the Saône slides past the red-tiled roofs of Vieux Lyon almost directly below.
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