The comments expressed in this blog are those of Sally Wallace and in no way represent the opinions of AED, the Fulbright Commission, or the Department of State of the US Government.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière-Stories in Mosaic



Bonjour mes amis! Saturday, November 6, Lee and I took our cousins to Lyon for the day. We rode the funicular to Fourvière Hill where, once you exit the funicular, this church is right in front of you. About 1870, the bishop of Lyon vowed to build a magnificent tribute to the Virgin Mary if the Prussians spared his city. Building of this church began in 1872, and the church was ready for worship by World War I. This is,undoubtedly, a Mary-centered church. Everything including the floor, walls, and ceiling are covered with beautiful mosaics. Stories glitter on the walls including those relating to the Virgin Mary in Church history on the left and those relating to the Virgin in French history on the right. My favorite was the one when Joan of Arc hears messages from Mary, rallies the French against the English at the Siege of Orléans in 1429, and then is burned at the stake in Rouen at age 19 in 1431.
Amusez-vous bien!!
Mme. Wallace

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