In Lyon, the Fourvière site continues its transformation

Clouds of angels, a school of fish and virgins, delicately shaped in recycled glass. On Saturday April 1, the Fourvière Museum reopens its doors until October to host the “Celestial Lights” exhibition in Marcoville (1), like an Edenic break before its last phase of restoration.

The site surrounding the famous Lyon basilica has in fact just started the second stage of the major works that are shaping its new face from month to month. “Millions of people climb the hill to admire the view, but how many take the time to stay there? asks Philippe Castaing, president of the Fourvière Foundation, owner of the site. The objective is to make everyone want to enter the building, discover its history or the side effects, to stroll around a bit! »

A more open and inclusive site

Launched in 2017, this vast project has already given rise to six new buildings. While the latest, called the “Maison Carrée”, has just opened its doors, the team already has its eyes riveted on the rest: the restoration of the towers of the building, the renovation of the chapel or even the construction of a treasure room.

The esplanade, on the north side, now looks like a village square with its reception pavilion, its café and its “Chaplains’ house”, housing a home for young people. To the south, the Carré de Fourvière is home to the “Pilgrims’ Halt”, a space for spiritual groups such as business seminars, and a vast cultural center.

The work on real estate, through renovation, restoration or construction, has been accompanied by an increase in the importance of the human and inclusive aspect with, for example, the creation of a team of nearly 80 volunteers who take turns at reception, integration of workers with disabilities, or visits for young people, “so that everyone feels in their place”.

A delayed construction site and a tight budget

If the first fruits are difficult to observe, after two years of Covid, “attendance is off to a good start and the return of the Lyonnais, touching”, estimates Philippe Castaing. The project, however, has a few shadows on the board: the health crisis, but above all the archaeological excavations led to a two-year delay, when the budget rose to around thirty million euros, against 25 announced.

The foundation cannot therefore, for the moment, project the construction of the “Discovery Space”, originally planned. The arbitrations favored the second phase of the work, more urgent since it should make it possible to “save” the heritage to be transmitted.

To raise the 5 million euros needed for the main projects, the Fourvière Foundation launched a national sponsorship campaign in October, by signing a partnership with the Heritage Foundation.

The goal? “To reach beyond the usual donors”, confides Cyril Balas, chairman of the supervisory board of the Fourvière commission, who announces a good start with more than €600,000 collected. The call for donations is also open to individuals to whom, he reminds, “the destiny of the basilica is linked, since its construction 150 years ago! “.

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