Discover A Unique Lyon with Us
"...What are you doing with the heritage of your glorious martyrs?”
When Saint John Paul II visited Lyon in October 1986, he posed this question to the faithful:
“Christians of Lyon, of Vienne, of France — what are you doing with the heritage of your glorious martyrs?”
At Christian Tours Lyon, we’ve embraced that challenge — and we invite you to join us.
Explore Lyon’s living faith and history on our guided walking tours, following in the footsteps of the city’s saints, martyrs, and visionaries. Let their inspiring stories, courage, and devotion awaken your heart, deepen your faith, and connect you to the spiritual soul of Lyon.
Lyon: A Roman City at the Heart of Christianity
From its beginnings as Lugdunum in 43 BC to its pivotal role in early Christianity, Lyon has been a city of faith, courage, and resilience. Our faith history walking tours highlight the lives of Lyon’s martyrs and guide you through the streets and monuments where the city’s Renaissance brilliance, revolutionary trials, and heroic acts during World War II are remembered and continue to inspire.
dISCOVER Fourvière hill and sanctuary
Fourvière Hill
Fourvière Sanctuary
Fourvière Sanctuary
Rising above the Saône River, Fourvière Hill is where Lyon began — a place of extraordinary history, culture, and a sacred heart that beats strong even today. Known as 'the hill that prays', it forms the heart of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage site and tells a story that spans more than two millennia: from ancient Rome to the birth of
Rising above the Saône River, Fourvière Hill is where Lyon began — a place of extraordinary history, culture, and a sacred heart that beats strong even today. Known as 'the hill that prays', it forms the heart of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage site and tells a story that spans more than two millennia: from ancient Rome to the birth of Christianity in Gaul, from medieval devotion to modern pilgrimage.
Exploring Fourvière Hill with Christian Tours Lyon guides you through layers of history — Roman, Christian, and modern — each revealing a facet of Lyon’s soul. From the ancient theatres and Saint-Irénée crypt, through the memorials dedicated to the early Christian martyrs of Lyon at L’Antiquaille, to its spiritual heart, the Basilica of Fourvière, the hill tells one continuous story of extraordinary faith, endurance, and beauty.
Whether you come as a pilgrim, a history lover, or an admirer of architecture, Fourvière Hill invites you to discover the soul of this city that has prayed, endured, and thrived for over 2,000 years.
The Fourvière hilltop tour focuses on three of the four distinct historic districts here: Fourvière, Saint-Just and Saint-Irénée. Each district reveals a different layer of Lyon’s identity.
At the eastern slope of the hill lie the Ancient Roman Theatres of Fourvière, the most visible remains of Lugdunum, the Roman capital of Gaul. Today, they remain active venues for the annual Nuits de Fourvière festival.
Further down is Saint-Irénée Church whose crypt is France’s oldest Christian crypt and the burial site of the famous theologian, and Doctor of the Church, Saint Irenaeus, the second bishop of Lyon. Close by, and opposite the home of Blessed Pauline Jaricot, is the L'Antiquaille Museum which preserves a sacred memorial crypt honouring the 48 martyrs of Lyon of 177 AD. Beneath this former convent of the Visitandines, the 'Cachot of Saint Pothinus' marks the symbolic cell where the city’s first bishop is believed to have died, becoming a major site of pilgrimage for centuries.
Crowning the hill is the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Lyon’s most iconic landmark and the spiritual heart and soul of the city. It is impossible to understate its spiritual value or significance to Lyon. A site of Marian devotion since Roman times, the first church was built in honour of Our Lady in the 12th century. The later Basilica designed by architects Pierre Bossan and Louis Sainte-Marie Perrin, was constructed in thanksgiving to the Virgin Mary for protecting Lyon from war and plague.
It consists of three parts: The Upper Church honouring the Queenship of Our Lady, the Crypt of Saint Joseph underneath, and the original Virgin’s Chapel, dating to the 12th century. From this devotion was born the Festival of Lights, when every December 8th, homes and streets are illuminated in gratitude to Mother Mary — a tradition that now draws millions of visitors from around the world.
Fourvière Hill inspired the founding of several religious congregations, including the Marists, Brothers of the Sacred Heart, and the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, all of whom drew inspiration from the shrine’s atmosphere of prayer, renewal and service. It also reflects the spiritual journeys of its great architects, Pierre Bossan and his successor Louis Sainte-Marie Perrin, who saw the basilica not merely as a building, but as an act of faith in stone.
Fourvière Sanctuary
Fourvière Sanctuary
Fourvière Sanctuary
There are few places that can truly capture the soul as the Basilica of Fourvière does. The beauty and serenity of this sanctuary transcend words. Any visit here deserves time spent in stillness — time to pause, to listen, to contemplate, and simply to be. Whether as part of your guided tour or during a quiet return on your own, allow you
There are few places that can truly capture the soul as the Basilica of Fourvière does. The beauty and serenity of this sanctuary transcend words. Any visit here deserves time spent in stillness — time to pause, to listen, to contemplate, and simply to be. Whether as part of your guided tour or during a quiet return on your own, allow yourself time to experience this sacred space in silence. To rush through, camera in hand, is to miss the essence of Fourvière and the deep devotion it embodies. This hill and its Queen, the Virgin Mary, invite not haste, but presence. The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is more than a monument — it is the Marian heart of the city, a sanctuary of faith and gratitude that has shaped Lyon’s identity for over eight centuries. Like its architects, we believe this is a special sanctuary of Our Blessed Mother’s where she waits for us and welcomes us with the most special motherly love.
The story of Fourvière began long before the basilica’s gleaming towers rose above the skyline. The original Chapel of the Virgin, first built in 1168, has stood as a place of pilgrimage and protection for centuries. From its humble stone walls, the people of Lyon have turned to Mother Mary in times of plague, war, and despair — and in gratitude for deliverance. The annual Aldermen’s Vow of 1643, a vow renewed to this day every September 8th, recalls the day when city leaders, facing the Black Death, ascended the hill to entrust Lyon to the Virgin’s care. The city was spared, and the vow became an enduring act of faith.
In 1870, when the Prussian army again threatened France, Lyon once more looked to its guardian. The city was protected, and in thanksgiving, a vow was made to build a new church beside the ancient chapel — a visible sign of gratitude and hope. Thus rose the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, designed by Pierre Bossan and completed by Louis Sainte-Marie Perrin, both men of profound artistic genius and deep Marian devotion. For Bossan, the project was a sacred mission rather than a commission. Having rediscovered his faith with the help of St Jean-Marie Vianney, the holy Curé of Ars, after years of loss, he withdrew in prayer and solitude to design what he called his “architecture of the soul.” He saw the basilica not merely as stone and ornament, but as a poem of faith, a spiritual ascent from earth to heaven. His successor, Perrin, carried this vision to completion, ensuring that every detail would reflect Mary’s purity, strength, and protection.
The basilica’s four towers rise 48 metres high, representing the cardinal virtues, standing like sentinels over Lyon. Within, its luminous mosaics, golden vaults, and delicate marbles form a symphony of prayer in colour and light honouring Mary - Daughter of the Father, Mother of Christ and Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Six vast mosaics tell the story of Mary in the history of the Church and of France. Below is the crypt of Saint Joseph, equal in scale to the church above. Bossan envisioned the Crypt as the original entrance, inviting pilgrims to approach Mary through her protector, St. Joseph.
Beside the grandeur of the basilica still stands the Virgin’s Chapel, dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel, small, humble yet immeasurably sacred — the heart from which all devotion to Our Lady of Fourvière flows. Here, generations of saints and missionaries, including the founders of the Marists, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, and the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, drew inspiration for their missions. The chapel remains the spiritual birthplace of countless vocations and acts of faith and mission that spread far beyond Lyon’s hills.
Just below the basilica, in its quiet shadow, stands the home of Blessed Pauline Jaricot, one of Fourvière’s most devoted souls and the foundress of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Living Rosary Association. Her life of prayer and service mirrors the very spirit of the hill — a faith lived out in love, humility, and courage.
Each December 8, the city’s gratitude shines once more during the Festival of Lights, when candles glow in every window — a simple, luminous echo of that first promise kept.
There are few sanctuaries that touch the soul as Fourvière does. Whether you ascend in pilgrimage, in prayer, or in awe, take time to be still before its Queen, for to pass quickly through is to miss the heart of Lyon itself.
Church of St Irenée
Fourvière Sanctuary
Church of St Irenée
Perched quietly on the slopes of Fourvière, the Church and Crypt of Saint Irenaeus hold the oldest religious monument in Lyon still in use.
This sacred site is part of what was once a vast Roman necropolis (cemetery), for the earliest citizens of Lugdunum. Tradition tells us that this is the crypt where two of the first Christian martyrs
Perched quietly on the slopes of Fourvière, the Church and Crypt of Saint Irenaeus hold the oldest religious monument in Lyon still in use.
This sacred site is part of what was once a vast Roman necropolis (cemetery), for the earliest citizens of Lugdunum. Tradition tells us that this is the crypt where two of the first Christian martyrs — Alexander and Epipodius — were laid to rest as well as Lyon's second bishop, the great theolgian and Doctor of the Church, Saint Irenaeus , whose theological writings helped shape the early Church and the New Testament of the Bible as we know it today.
By the 6th century, a church had been established on the site, named in his honor to commemorate his leadership, teachings, and the pivotal role he played in shaping the faith of the early Church in Gaul.
History, however, has tested this holy place.
It suffered destruction during the early Middle Ages and was desecrated by the Calvinist forces of the Baron des Adrets, who scattered the revered bones of the martyrs. While many were later gathered and placed in the ossuary of the crypt, the exact remains can no longer be identified. Yet the true significance of the site lies not in its relics, but in its enduring history of prayer, devotion, and the spiritual legacy of Saint Irenaeus, whose writings and pastoral guidance helped shape the universal Church. It is profoundly moving to pause here, to imagine standing in communion with this towering figure, the two brave martyrs of Lyon laid to rest below, and all the saints of heaven, united in the eternal communion of faith.
Allow yourself to be drawn to the crypt’s solemn spaces, including the Well of the Martyrs long associated with miracles, the remarkable stained glass windows in the upper church, tracing the chain of saints who brought Christianity to Lyon, and the striking Calvary scene outside, which overlooks the city and offers a moment of contemplation on the Crucifixion, visible to all below.
To step into Saint Irenaeus Church is to walk among the first witnesses of the Gospel in Gaul, making it a highlight for Christian Walking Tours Lyon, where we like to take time to pause in reflection, and connect with this heritage of courage, hope, and devotion that continues to inspire today.
Note: The Crypt and Calvary are closed for renovations until Jun 2026 but visits to the Church are still possible.
DISCOVER SOME VIEUX LYON HIGHLIGHTS
Vieux Lyon
Rue du Boeuf and La Tour Rose
St Jean Baptiste Cathedral
A Christian and Renaissance Treasure
Step into Vieux Lyon, the city’s historic heart, where cobbled streets, hidden traboules, and striking Renaissance arches transport you back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Settled on the banks of the Saône as early as the third century, this district became the seat of the Lyon bishopric and a thriving
A Christian and Renaissance Treasure
Step into Vieux Lyon, the city’s historic heart, where cobbled streets, hidden traboules, and striking Renaissance arches transport you back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Settled on the banks of the Saône as early as the third century, this district became the seat of the Lyon bishopric and a thriving centre of Christian life, making it a focal point for Christian tours in Lyon, with churches, monastic institutions, and the magnificent Cathédrale Saint‑Jean at its heart.
By the Renaissance, Vieux Lyon blossomed as a hub of commerce, silk production, and printing, leaving a legacy of elegant architecture and vibrant street life. Divided into three quarters—Saint‑Jean (clergy and aristocracy), Saint‑Paul (bourgeois and business), and Saint‑Georges (artisans and merchants)—the district invites you to explore centuries of faith, history, and culture at every turn.
St Jean Baptiste Cathedral
Rue du Boeuf and La Tour Rose
St Jean Baptiste Cathedral
The Heart of Lyon’s Christian Heritage
At the heart of Vieux Lyon stands Saint-Jean Cathedral (Primatiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste), the seat of the Primate of Gaul, one of the oldest bishoprics in the Western world and a cornerstone of Lyon’s Christian heritage.
Built between 1170 and the 15th century, over a 6th century original site, it blen
The Heart of Lyon’s Christian Heritage
At the heart of Vieux Lyon stands Saint-Jean Cathedral (Primatiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste), the seat of the Primate of Gaul, one of the oldest bishoprics in the Western world and a cornerstone of Lyon’s Christian heritage.
Built between 1170 and the 15th century, over a 6th century original site, it blends Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The three portals feature 320 carved medallions depicting biblical scenes, saints, and enigmatic figures, which remarkably survived the 1562 attack by Baron des Adrets.
Inside, visitors can admire 13th-century stained glass, 18th-century sculptures, medieval capitals, and the remarkable 1661 astronomical clock with its automata, making it a must-see on any Lyon walking tour.
Outside, the Archaeological Garden reveals Lyon’s earliest Christian churches and baptistery.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Saint-Jean offers a captivating journey through centuries of faith, art, and history.
Rue du Boeuf and La Tour Rose
Rue du Boeuf and La Tour Rose
Rue du Boeuf and La Tour Rose
Nestled in the heart of Vieux Lyon, Rue du Bœuf is a stunning showcase of the city’s Renaissance heritage, making it a highlight for all Lyon walking tours. The street is lined with beautifully preserved 16th- and 17th-century façades, adorned with sculpted lintels, ornate doorways, and carved stone details.
Influenced by Florentine archi
Nestled in the heart of Vieux Lyon, Rue du Bœuf is a stunning showcase of the city’s Renaissance heritage, making it a highlight for all Lyon walking tours. The street is lined with beautifully preserved 16th- and 17th-century façades, adorned with sculpted lintels, ornate doorways, and carved stone details.
Influenced by Florentine architecture, many buildings feature elegant loggias, hidden courtyards, balanced proportions, and intricate stonework, brought by Italian merchants who helped shape the city’s style.
Rue du Bœuf exemplifies how Vieux Lyon thrived economically due to the combined influence of the Church, international trade, banking, royal patronage, and these Italian entrepreneurs.
Highlights include the Cour des Loges and La Tour Rose, one of Lyon’s most photographed buildings. Hidden traboules reveal the ingenuity of Lyon’s merchants and artisans, making the street a living testament to its Renaissance prosperity and beauty.
DISCOVER PRESQU'ÎLE HIGHLIGHTS
Saint Nizier Church
Basilica of Saint-Bonaventure
Saint Nizier Church
Presqu’île's Spiritual Heart.
Tthe Church of Saint-Nizier stands as one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, bearing witness to nearly two millennia of faith and history. Built on one of Lyon’s oldest sacred sites, it traces its origins to a Lugdunum cemetery, with early Christian epitaphs dating back to 495 and a tradition linking the si
Presqu’île's Spiritual Heart.
Tthe Church of Saint-Nizier stands as one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, bearing witness to nearly two millennia of faith and history. Built on one of Lyon’s oldest sacred sites, it traces its origins to a Lugdunum cemetery, with early Christian epitaphs dating back to 495 and a tradition linking the site to Saint Pothin, Lyon’s first bishop. Many also believe it is the site of first Marian shine in Lyon . . . According to legend, he placed a revered image or statue of the Virgin Mary in a small oratory beneath where the current church is, establishing the earliest Marian devotion in the city.
By the 5th century, a church dedicated to the Holy Apostles and the Martyrs of Lyon from 177 was stood on this sacred ground. In the 6th century, Saint Nizier, Bishop of Lyon, was interred here. Before long, pilgrims from across Gaul started to come, drawn by his sanctity and holiness and the many miracles reported at his resting place. Such were the crowds, the Church was renamed in his honour.
Over the centuries, it was repeatedly damaged and rebuilt, reflecting Lyon’s turbulent medieval, Renaissance, and revolutionary history.
The current Gothic structure, largely built between the 14th and 16th centuries, showcases a blend of Flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance styles. Its two towers—the 15th-century Gothic north tower with a red-tiled roof and clock, and the taller 19th-century neo-Gothic south tower crowned with a limestone spire—give the façade its distinctive asymmetrical charm. Notable features include the grand central door with a Latin inscription, flying buttresses, sculpted pediments, and statues of Saint Nizier, Saint Anne, Saint Joachim, and the Virgin Mary with Child.
Inside, Saint-Nizier is a masterpiece of Lyonnais Gothic, and the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace which houses the tomb of Blessed Pauline Jaricot, founder of the Propagation of the Faith and The Living Rosary, alongside a revered Virgin and Child statue listed as a Historic Monument.
Beneath the high altar lies the crypt, commemorating Lyon’s first Christian martyrs and Saint Pothin’s early Marian devotion. Modern mosaics and neo-Gothic decorations, added during 19th-century renovations, complement its historic significance. Through invasions, revolutions, and restorations, Saint-Nizier has remained a beacon of Lyon’s Christian heritage, inspiring visitors with its architectural splendor, rich history, and enduring spiritual legacy at the heart of the city.
Place des Terreaux
Basilica of Saint-Bonaventure
Saint Nizier Church
Presqu’île's Historical Heart
Created in the 17th century, Lyon’s second-largest square after Place Bellecour, has long been a hub for the city’s citizens — once the site of many revolts (e.g. the Canut revolts of 1786 and 1831), brutal revolutionary guillotine executions after the 1793 siege of Lyon, and multiple protests, strikes, an
Presqu’île's Historical Heart
Created in the 17th century, Lyon’s second-largest square after Place Bellecour, has long been a hub for the city’s citizens — once the site of many revolts (e.g. the Canut revolts of 1786 and 1831), brutal revolutionary guillotine executions after the 1793 siege of Lyon, and multiple protests, strikes, and social movements. In 1944, it was the place where General de Gaulle proclaimed Lyon the “capital of the Resistance.”
a moment of great civic pride.
Architecturally, the square is surrounded by some of Lyon’s finest landmarks. To the east stands the Hôtel de Ville, reshaped over centuries into a grand Baroque masterpiece. To the south, the Palais Saint-Pierre, formerly a convent, now houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which hosts one of France’s most important fine arts collections outside Paris. At the square’s centre, is the Bartholdi Fountain, a striking quadriga installed in 1890 celebrating France’s rivers.
It is framed by elegant residential buildings with café terraces, while the Galerie des Terreaux lies to the west. Just behind the Hôtel de Ville, a short walk along Rue Joseph Serlin leads to Place de la Comédie and the Lyon Opera House.
Today, Place des Terreaux is a vibrant pedestrian hub, alive with cafés, cultural institutions, and public gatherings. Its blend of history, architecture, and civic life makes it not just a square, but a living testament to Lyon’s turbulent past and enduring spirit—a place to gather, reflect, and admire.
Basilica of Saint-Bonaventure
Basilica of Saint-Bonaventure
Basilica of Saint-Bonaventure
Presqu’île’s Guild Heart
The Basilique Saint-Bonaventure, situated on Place des Cordeliers in Lyon, is one of the city’s most significant medieval landmarks. It was elevated to the status of a minor basilica in 2019 by Pope Francis.
This designation was granted in recognition of the church’s historical, spiritual, and pastoral importan
Presqu’île’s Guild Heart
The Basilique Saint-Bonaventure, situated on Place des Cordeliers in Lyon, is one of the city’s most significant medieval landmarks. It was elevated to the status of a minor basilica in 2019 by Pope Francis.
This designation was granted in recognition of the church’s historical, spiritual, and pastoral importance.
It was built in the early 14th century on the site of a Franciscan convent and the tomb of Saint Bonaventure, who died in 1274 and is honoured as a Doctor of the Church.
Expanded in the 15th century, it became the church of Lyon’s powerful corporate guilds (brotherhoods). Over nearly two centuries, these guilds financed the construction of richly decorated chapels, including that of Sainte-Geneviève. While this patronage ensured financial stability, it also drew the church into periods of unrest. In 1529, it was damaged during a riot, and in 1562, during the French Wars of Religion, it was devastated by the troops of Baron des Adrets: altars were overturned, chapels looted, and relics destroyed.
The upheaval continued during the French Revolution, when the Franciscan community was expelled, the church deconsecrated, and the convent, cloisters, and gardens demolished. The building was subsequently used for a variety of secular purposes before being restored to worship in 1806.
In the 19th century, major urban redevelopment transformed the surrounding district. The basilica became notably the only medieval building to survive the creation of Rue Impériale (now Rue de la République), leaving it somewhat isolated within a newly planned urban landscape.
Restoration work led by Louis-Frédéric Benoît sought to recover a purer Gothic style, enhancing features such as the rose windows and vaulted ceilings.
The church suffered again during the Second World War, when in 1944 many of its stained-glass windows were shattered following the deliberate destruction of Lyon’s bridges by retreating German forces—an act widely regarded as both unnecessary and vindictive.
Today, the basilica is renowned for its restored stained-glass windows and remains an active place of worship, preserving centuries of Lyon’s religious and civic history.
Place des Cordeliers itself takes its name from the Franciscan friars—known in France as “Cordeliers” due to the cord they wore around their waists. Established in 1557 on former Franciscan land, the square became an important link between the Rhône and Saône rivers. It lies beside the Palais du Commerce, whose façade is adorned with a striking marble sculpture representing the two rivers.
PRESQU'ÎLE
PRESQU'ÎLE Overview
Lyon’s Modern Heart and Historical Core
Nestled between the Saône and Rhône rivers, the Presqu’île—literally “almost an island”—has grown from its medieval roots into the modern heart of Lyon, bustling with commerce, culture, and civic life.
Extending from the foot of the Croix-Rousse hill in the north to the confluence of the two rivers in the south, this vibrant district blends history and modernity, and is home to some of Lyon’s most elegant and expensive shopping streets, lively cafés, and iconic squares.
Presqu’île’s streets reveal centuries of architectural evolution, from Renaissance traces along the Saône and in the Terreaux district to 18th- and 19th-century transformations with grand boulevards and Haussmann-style designs.
Highlights we take in on our walkig tour include the incredible Church of St. Nizier, with its soaring spires marking the foot of the former Saône bridge, and the Basilica of St. Bonaventure, the burial place of the revered Franciscan saint. The remarkable Place des Terreaux, site of French Revolution executions and where General de Gaulle proclaimed Lyon the “capital of the Resistance” in 1944, is home to the impressive Bartholdi Fountain and the Musée des Beaux-Arts (formerly the Palais Saint-Pierre). Nearby, the Place de la Comédie houses the Opera House. At the end of the tour, we recommend you visit the the grand Place Bellecour which features the equestrian statue of Louis XIV, serving as the symbolic centre of the city.
Along the way, you will also encounter Lyon’s banking and trade heritage in the Palais de la Bourse district, and the historical Rue de la République, noted for its Haussmann-style broad boulevards, which connect the city’s rich past to its cosmopolitan present. We should even catch a glimpse of the home of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, founder of the Society of St Vincent De Paul.
The Presqu’île is also a hub of culture, featuring theatres such as the Célestins Theatre and, through its elegant squares and streets, offering a window into Lyon’s evolution as a European center of faith, commerce, and artistry.
This tour provides a unique opportunity to explore the heart of Lyon where history, culture, faith, and modern life converge, giving visitors a rich and immersive experience of one of France’s most vibrant city centres
The Martyrs of Lyon 177-178
The Martyrs of Lyon 177AD
Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls 19AD
Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls 19AD
The Persecution That Could Not Contain the Faith
In 177 AD, the bustling Roman city of Lugdunum became the site of a brutal persecution of Christians, during which forty-eight believers, including Saint Pothin (Pothinus) and Lyon’s patron saint, the young slave Blandine, gave their lives for their faith. Their courage and steadfast witness, documented in a letter sent from the Christians of Vienne and Lugdunum to the Christians of Smyrna and preserved by the great historian Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History, shone through torture, imprisonment, and death, leaving an enduring mark on the city. This story is often highlighted in Christian tours in Lyon, where visitors can explore the profound faith history tours that recount the Martyrs of Lyon and their inspiring legacy. Their sacrifice helped shape Lyon as a cradle of early Christianity and inspired generations of believers and missionaries. Yet, this peaceful faith—welcoming people of all backgrounds—was seen as a significant threat, prompting the persecution that unfolded.
Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls 19AD
Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls 19AD
Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls 19AD
Site of Power, Persecution and Pilgimage
The Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, located on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse in Lyon, is considered the oldest Roman amphitheatre in Gaul. This amphitheatre was part of the Federal Sanctuary of the Three Gauls, dedicated to the cult of Rome and Caesar Augustus. Every August, delegates from the 60 Gallic cities of the Three Gauls (Aquitania, Belgica and Lugdunensis) gathered here to worship the gods of the Rome and Augustus, and to renew it’s allegiance to Rome annually. It was this grand gathering in August that earned Lyon the nickname "capital of the Gauls" and contributed hugely to Lyon’s importance. Founded in 19 AD under Tiberius, it initially seated around 1,800 spectators before being expanded in the 2nd century to accommodate up to 20,000.
Beyond its political and religious role, the amphitheatre hosted popular public spectacles such as gladiatorial games and hunts, drawing audiences from all levels of society. It was also here and during this festival that the martyr Blandina and her 5 comrades were tortured, fed to the beasts and martyred for their refusal to renounce their Christian faith. Hence why for those interested in early Christian history, this is not simply an archaeological site, but a place of sacred memory powerfully reminding us of one of the earliest recorded persecutions of Christians in Gaul and of the faith and resilience that shaped the foundations of Christianity in this region.
The visit of Pope John Paul II to the Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules in Lyon took place in October 1986, during his pastoral journey to France. His presence at this ancient site was highly symbolic: he came not as a tourist of antiquity, but as a pilgrim, explicitly to honour the memory of the early Christian martyrs of Lyon.
At the amphitheatre—traditionally associated with the persecution of 177 AD—he led a moment of prayer and recollection, paying tribute to figures such as Saint Blandina and her companions. In doing so, he reaffirmed Lyon’s importance as one of the earliest centres of Christianity in Western Europe and highlighted the enduring significance of martyrdom in the Christian tradition. The Pope’s message emphasised fidelity, courage, and the continuity of faith from the early Church to the present day. His visit effectively renewed the amphitheatre’s role not only as a historical monument, but as a living spiritual landmark within the city.
Although the Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules is currently closed to the public, it can still be clearly viewed from above, and we are able to walk around its perimeter. Compared to the theatres on Fourvière Hill, it remains in a more fragile and less restored condition. Yet despite this, it endures as a place of quiet but meaningful pilgrimage, particularly in remembrance of the early Christian martyrs associated with the site. One hopes that, in time, it will receive the care and attention befitting its status as the oldest—and one of the most significant—amphitheatres in Roman Gaul.
Photo courtesy of Le Progres.
Saints Epipodius and Alexander
Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls 19AD
Saints Epipodius and Alexander
Friends in Faith, Witnesses in Martyrdom
During the brutal persecution of Christians in Roman Lugdunum (modern-day Lyon), two young men—Epipodius of Lyon and Alexander of Greek origin—gave their lives for Christ.
These lifelong friends were celebrated for their purity, charity, and devotion, and during Lyon walking tours, their story often resonates with visitors exploring the faith history of the city. They were discovered while hiding from the authorities and brought before the governor.
Refusing to renounce their faith, they endured torture and death with extraordinary courage, leaving behind a legacy of friendship, faith, and steadfast love for God that continues to inspire those who learn about the Martyrs of Lyon on Christian tours in Lyon.
Christian Martyrdom - Crypts & monuments
L'Antiquaille Museum
The Lyonnais Martyrs of 1793-1794
The Lyonnais Martyrs of 1793-1794
Discreetly set on the slopes of Fourvière, the L’Antiquaille Museum occupies one of Lyon’s most evocative historic sites, built over layers reaching back to Roman Lugdunum. Once a convent and later a hospital, tradition also identifies this place as the site of the prison where Saint Pothin, Lyon’s first bishop, was martyred in 177 AD.
Today, its underground crypt preserves a remarkable cycle of 19th-century mosaics, recounting the martyrdom of 48 early Christians, including Saint Pothin and Saint Blandine, in powerful, vivid detail.
Carefully composed as a visual narrative, the mosaics reveal the depth of Lyon’s earliest Christian identity—its apostolic links and its endurance through persecution.
Fully restored in the 2010s, the museum offers a rare encounter with the spiritual foundations of the city, where history, faith, and art converge in a profoundly moving experience beneath Fourvière.
A visit here is included in all of our Fourvière Hill tours.
Image Copyright: L'Antiquaille-ECCLY
The Lyonnais Martyrs of 1793-1794
The Lyonnais Martyrs of 1793-1794
The Lyonnais Martyrs of 1793-1794
The Brotteaux Crypt preserves the memory—and the remains—of 209 victims from one of Lyon’s darkest chapters: the brutal repression that followed the city’s revolt against the Jacobin authorities during the French Revolution in 1793.
The National Convention in Paris, viewing Lyon’s uprising as an insolent threat, sent the Army of the Alps to crush the revolt. The city endured a two-month siege and was ultimately defeated. What followed was a campaign of brutal reprisals led by Fouché, who sought vengeance: executions, often preceded by mock trials, took place daily—by guillotine, mass shootings, and, when the guillotine proved too slow, the notorious mitraillades.
Between October 1793 and April 1794, around 2,000 people—priests, religious, and ordinary citizens—were executed, many for their faith or perceived opposition to the Revolution. Among them were around 80 recognised martyrs.
Lyon Saints
Lyon - Home of Saint Irenaeus
Saint Irenaeus of Lyon stands as one of the most important figures of the early Church and a vital link in the apostolic tradition. Originally from Asia Minor, he was formed in the Christian faith through Saint Polycarp, who himself had been a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist. Through this direct spiritual lineage, Irenaeus is closely connected to the very origins of Christianity.
Sent to Gaul in the second century, he became priest and later Bishop of Lyon, a city still emerging in the Christian world. There, he served a community marked by both persecution and remarkable witness, following the martyrdoms of 177 AD. In response to doctrinal confusion and emerging heresies, Irenaeus became one of the Church’s first great theologians, defending the unity of Scripture and Tradition and articulating a coherent vision of the Christian faith.
His writings and pastoral leadership helped shape the foundations of Western Christianity, earning him recognition as a Father of the Church and a key architect of early Christian theology.
Blessed Pauline Jaricot
At the foot of Fourvière Basilica stands the home of Blessed Pauline Jaricot, a young woman from Lyon whose life transformed global mission. Born in 1799 into a silk-working family, she experienced a profound conversion at seventeen and dedicated her life to God at Fourvière in 1816. From there, she united contemplation with action, founding the Society for the Propagation of the Faith to support missionaries worldwide through small, collective donations. Later, she created the Living Rosary, a vast network of shared prayer. Despite hardship and obscurity, her vision continues to shape prayer and mission across the world today.