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The basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which overlooks the city, Lyon, Rhône, Rodan-Alpy (Nickname: Christophe) |
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Lyon's geography is dominated by the Rhône and Saône rivers which converge to the south of the historic city centre forming a sort of peninsula; two large hills, one to the west and one to the north of the historic city centre; and a large plain which sprawls eastward from the historic city centre.
To the west is Fourvière, known as 'the hill that prays', the location for the highly decorated Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica, several convents, the palace of the Archbishop, the Tour métallique (a highly visible TV tower, replicating the last stage of the Eiffel Tower) and a funicular.
To the north is the Croix-Rousse, 'the hill that works', traditionally home to many small silk workshops, an industry for which the city was renowned.
The original medieval city (Vieux Lyon) was built on the west bank of the Saône river at the foot of the Fourvière hill, west of the presqu'île. (This area, along with portions of the presqu'ile and much of the Croix-Rousse are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
To see :
* Place Bellecour
* Tour métallique de Fourvière (1894)
* La Mouche Cattle Market and Abbatoir (1914, 1928).
* Sainte Marie de La Tourette monastery (1960) designed by Le Corbusier
* Opéra National de Lyon, renovated in 1993 by Jean Nouvel.
* Saint-Jean cathedral
* Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière.
* Basilica of St-Martin-d'Ainay.
* The church of Ainay, dating from the tenth and eleventh centuries, is of the Byzantine style.
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