The city of Lyon is located at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers. It is the capital of the Rhône-Alpes region and the Rhône department. It lies on a branch of the French Way of St James.
Lyon was founded by the Romans in 43 BC under the Celtic name Lugdunum (Fortress of Lug) as the administrative centre of Gaul. Before that, a Celtic settlement already existed in the same place. The city held this role for over three centuries before its importance declined in the course of the fall of the Roman Empire.
The idiosyncratic church of Notre-Dame is perched on a hill above the Saône. It was built in the 19th century and cannot easily be assigned to any one style.
From the terrace you have a wonderful view of the city.
The church is currently (2012) being renovated inside.
There is another church in the basement.
Of the many depictions of the Virgin Mary, this Byzantine one particularly appealed to me.
A huge mosaic of St James aroused my interest. In the background, his miracles and the Way of St James are pictorially depicted. In the upper row we see the churches of Lyon, Le Puy and Santiago.
The Way of Saint James through Lyon is signalled with these shell signs on the ground.
On the left, the church of St Georges on the banks of the Saône, on the hill the church of Notre Dame and next to it the transmission tower, which looks like a small Eiffel Tower.
