Choose a half or full day - curated already or personalise

 Step away from the pace of daily life and enter a journey of prayer, contemplation, and encounter. This pilgrimage invites you to move slowly and reflectively through some of Lyon’s most sacred sites, including the Basilica of Fourvière, the home of Blessed Pauline Jaricot, and the L’Antiquaille Museum. 

This pilgrimage is an invitation to pause, reflect, and allow Lyon’s rich Marian heritage to draw the heart closer to Jesus in an atmosphere of quiet awe and spiritual renewal.

Begin at the L’Antiquaille Museum, praying at the Prison Cell of Saint Pothinus —traditionally associated with his martyrdom—and in the Crypt of Mosaics, a compelling artistic evocation of the early Christian community and its witness. Here, the faith, witness, and endurance of the city’s early Christian martyrs are powerfully evoked in a way that never fails to move, inspire, and challenge. 

Next, visit the house and chapel of Blessed Pauline Jaricot, founder of the Association of the Living Rosary and the Society for the Propagation of the Faith - a remarkable figure whose missionary zeal and deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin and the Rosary prayer continues to inspire global prayer and missionary movements. From here, we ascend through the contemplative Rosary Garden to the majestic Fourvière Basilica.

 At Fourvière, enjoy a guided visit of the sanctuary, including the original Chapel of the Virgin, the Crypt of Saint Joseph, and the magnificent upper basilica designed by architect Pierre Bossan as a poem of love to the Our Lady, her Queenship of Heaven and her divine motherhood. 

 Discover the profound Marian identity of Lyon, including the city’s historic consecration to the Virgin Mary, the vows of its aldermen—renewed each 8th September—and the origins of the world-famous Festival of Lights. From this sacred hill, a missionary impulse has radiated globally for centuries. 

This tour offers a unique journey of faith, combining history, devotion, prayer and reflection, and invites participants to encounter Lyon through the lens of Marian spirituality.

Optional Add on: 

UNESCO World Heritage Site St Jean Baptiste Cathedral, and Vieux Lyon, A short skip tour of the city’s historic Renaissance quarter and its historic  cathedral, built on the site of a 6th century church and 4th century baptistry. Discover its rich history, marvel at its famous astronomical clock, and explore other treasures of the district with this optional guided tour. (If you wish to be guaranteed access to a Traboule, we must visit in the morning). 

or

Church of Saint Irenaeus and its Calvary garden, site of Lyon’s oldest church, (and, from June 2026, explore its crypt where Saint Irenaeus was entombed until the Wars of Religion, alongside martyrs Alexander and Epipodius, who were martyred in 178 AD). 

(Duration Minimum 1 hour more)

As this is a highly personalised tour, pricing will be confirmed once your preferences and priorities have been established. Guide duration = 4 hours

A full-day retreat including all the sites of the half-day itinerary, as well as a visit to the Church of Saint Irenaeus and the crypt where he is believed to have been laid to rest, along with other key highlights.

This journey unfolds at a slower, more reflective pace than the half-day retreat, and is interwoven with moments of silent and communal prayer, opportunities for personal contemplation, and Eucharistic Adoration.

This pilgrimage invites you to step away from the busyness of life and to take time to walk with Our Lady of Fourvière, in communion with the saints and martyrs of Lyon, towards her Son, Jesus. It is a time to listen, reflect, honour, rest, give thanks, and simply be.

 Begin your day from Lyon or directly from Ars for a profound full-day pilgrimage journey into the life and ministry of Saint Jean-Marie Vianney, the Curé of Ars and patron saint of all priests. 

This pilgrimage invites you to enter his spiritual school, for a day of encounter and reflection: to discover and grow in love for the Curé of Ars, to hear and respond to his concrete call to holiness, to entrust your intentions to his intercession, to give thanks, to pray for priests and vocations, and to ask for his guidance in deepening your own spiritual life.  Highlights include: 

•  The Bascilica: containing the pulpit he preached from, his famous confessional and the shrine containing his intact body on display in the side chapel.
• The Presbytery : A visit to the home where where the saint lived and faithfully ministered.
• Saint Jean-Marie Vianney Wax Museum, an incredible wax museum containing 16 scenes depicting the most significant moments in the life of the Curé who is now the Patron of all Priests. This museum is more than a visit, it is an encounter that has left some with tears in their eyes by the end. Not to be missed. 
• The Chapel of his Heart, cotaining the relic of the Holy Curé's heart.
• The Monument of the Meeting (time permiting), commemorating the Curé's arrival in Ars and his dialogue with the little shepherd Antoine Givre.  
•   Daily Parish Mass – Time permitting, join the local community in the 11:00 AM Mass, sharing in the prayer life of the town that shaped the saint’s ministry. For groups accompanied by a priest, it may be possible to celebrate Mass at the altar of the Curé of Ars, where his body rests.

 This pilgrimage is an opportunity to discover this beautiful priest revered for his extraordinary holiness, humility, and dedication to the pastoral care of his parishioners, transforming a small village into a huge centre of faith, even in his lifetime, through his tireless ministry. His life exemplifies the power of prayer, penance, and selfless service, making him a model for priests and a guide for all seeking a deeper, authentic relationship with God.

 Transport, and museum entry are not included but are highly recommended to enrich your experience. Neither are shrine donations or meals. 

From €450

Photo Copyright Pascal Brunon.