in photos, the roofs of the Saint-Nizier church
The crypt, theater of the press briefing for the presentation of Pauline Jaricot
The crypt is located under the altar of the church at a depth of 3.25 meters, accessible via two side stairs allowing you to enter it. Behind the Archbishop of Lyon, the fresco represents the Virgin Mary flanked by Saint John and Saint Pothin, two essential characters in Christian history. The crypt also houses the epitaph of “Saint Sardinia [évêque de Lyon de 549 à 552, ndlr], a first name named after Saint Sacerdos“Today, we explain during the presentation.
The church triforium
Before accessing the rooftops, the tour took a detour through the triforium, narrow opening galleries found in 14th-century Gothic churches. Those “corridors“then gives a breathtaking view of the nave of Saint-Nizier.
The vaults culminate up to 30 meters in height. According to Renaud Gormand, guide of the day, “the former mayor of Lyon Louis Pradel wanted to destroy the church (which was falling apart) and build a Mercure hotel instead“, he smiles.
A piece of stone would have fallen into the nave, putting visitors at risk.
A revolt of the Lyonnais would have allowed 20 years of renovation and especially prevented the city councilor of Lyon from 1957 to 1976, from going to the end of the project.
The roofs of Saint-Nizier
And no elevator to access the rooftops. The horde of journalists who followed the guide Renaud Gormand, former president of the association of friends of Saint-Nizier climbed step after step the tens of meters to (finally) reach the roofs. What almost make you dizzy.
The two bell towers were built several hundred years apart. The oldest, in brick, located on the north tower dates from the construction of the church which ends in 1590. It is much more often controlled by historical monuments than its neighbor, built to the south, between 1843 and 1857.
From the roofs of Saint-Nizier, the view of “the pencil or the eraser”, the two towers of Part-Dieu is breathtaking. On the other side, the landscape offered by the hill and the basilica of Fourvière is just as impressive. In the 19th century, the Jaricot family – who had become bourgeois thanks to the work of silk – bought land on the Fourvière hill to donate to the congregations. “If the hill is so green today, it is also thanks to the Jaricot family who left a real imprint on the town planning of our city.“, detailed Joséphine Brun, responsible for the communication of the diocese of Lyon.
A breathtaking view that does not escape the parish priests. “They ride chairs come and watch the 14th of July fireworks here“, slide to Lyon Capital the steward of the church. “You have to have the keys, but that’s part of the advantages“, he continues with a smile.
Far from the fireworks or seeing a hotel rise from the ground in place of the church, the monument is “de anyway protected from satan“Thanks to the hundred gargoyles that keep it away, explains Renaud Gormand. The noise of the surrounding cars and the apparent calm of the roofs fascinate the privileged on Thursday, March 24.”We are in the countryside here“, we underline on both sides.