Musée d’art religieux de Fourvière

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1960 on the site of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. It belongs to the Fondation Fourvière and aims to showcase the artistic and cultural richness of Christianity. For about fifty years it ran an active program of temporary exhibitions on ancient and contemporary religious heritage.

The collections include religious goldsmith’s work from the 18th to the 20th century, 19th-century liturgical textiles representative of Lyon silk weaving, drawings and watercolors by goldsmith Armand-Calliat and the silk house Tassinari, as well as objects linked to the construction of the basilica (modelos, drawings, models). There are also votive offerings, medals, prints and a set of Marian statues. The Fourvière treasure, built up from donations made to construct the basilica, consists mainly of 19th- and 20th-century goldsmith’s work.

The permanent route, with about fifty works, traces the history of devotion to Mary in Lyon and the decision to build the basilica. It serves as a key to understanding the whole Fourvière site.

Highlights

• Permanent route on Marian devotion in Lyon and the building of the basilica
• Fourvière treasure: 19th- and 20th-century goldsmith’s work
• Works by Lyon goldsmith Armand-Calliat
• Liturgical textiles from Lyon silk weaving
• Votive offerings, modelos and drawings from the basilica construction site

Permanent exhibition

• Parcours permanent du musée de Fourvière – Some fifty works from the 14th to the 21st century tell the story of Marian devotion in Lyon and the origins of the basilica’s construction.

Founded

1960

Operated by

Fondation Fourvière

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission during the evening openings from 18:00 to 20:00 on October 26, November 30 and December 28, 2026.

The prices shown are for the current visit, which includes the permanent route and the temporary exhibition. Free admission for holders of the Lyon City Card, ICOM members and Friends of the Museum.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair ramps serve the museum. There are two accessible parking spaces in the esplanade car park; access to the foundation’s private car park is allowed for people with reduced mobility on request at the reception pavilion. One elevator is accessible from the esplanade and another at the funicular exit. Two tactile models of Lyon and the Fourvière hill are installed on the esplanade.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Walk up from Vieux-Lyon through the Rosaire gardens: about 25 minutes.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check: not available
• Lockers: not available

Café and shops on the Fourvière site. The site has no luggage storage; no luggage can be left.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit