The Notre-Dame de Lyon church is located on Île Barbe, in the 9th arrondissement, to the north-west of the city.
The island is formed from a rocky block which emerges in the middle of the Saône, and belonged to the commune of Saint-Rambert, which was attached to Lyon in 1963. Already famous in the time of the Druids and Romans, the site became at the beginning of our era a refuge for Christians and in the 5th century, a Benedictine abbey was founded there, which then proved to be one of the first in France.
The church was erected in a Romanesque style in the 11th and 12th centuries by the monks who were disturbed by the many pilgrims converging on the island.
Until the Revolution, the history of the church was linked to that of the abbey, which was fortified and considered a major intellectual center because of the treasures contained in its library. Prestigious visitors stop there, such as King Louis XIII in the 17th century.
Today, the church and part of the neighboring cloister are the only remains of the abbey. Classified "national property", the church was bought by a private individual at the beginning of the 19th century. He carried out restoration work then the building was listed in the Inventory and protected as historical monuments.
The nave is not original. On the other hand, the apse surmounted by the bell tower is endowed with rich decorations of the 12th and 17th centuries and the gallery with ogival cover is equipped with capitals of very beautiful craftsmanship.
Cultural events are regularly scheduled by an association which also organizes visits to finance site restoration projects.
Visit by reservation only and for groups of at least 8 people. Price: 10 euros per person. Information on +33 4 78 83 98 51.
