Abbaye de Saint Martin d'Ainay
Abbaye de Saint Martin d'Ainay
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Abbaye de Saint Martin d'Ainay and nearby attractions
The area
Address
How to get there
- Ampère - Victor Hugo • 2 min walk
- Perrache • 6 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,960 within 3 miles
Attractions
388 within 6 miles
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
81 reviews
Excellent
49
Very good
27
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia42,596 contributions
Sep 2019
Abbaye de Saint Martin d'Ainay is a beautiful church. We passed by on our way to another sight and intended on returning and going inside. However things did not quite turn out the way we intended and totally missed out, as it was closed when we finally arrived. From what we understand it is a building absolutely worth visiting.
Written August 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Davidfirving
Ardrossan, UK2,237 contributions
Apr 2019 • Solo
What a wonderful place to go to on this Easter morning. There was a lovely sung mass and the baptismal service for two children who were remarkably well behaved.
Written April 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Smokiedog
Scotland215 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
Small beautiful church not too far from the Musee des Tissus. Attended a concert here recently and the acoustics are tremendous.Romanesque style architecture with some beautiful latter day ornamentation (C19th). Lots of of good restaurants ( non bouchon) nearby.
Written November 3, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cheiranthus
Saint-Chinian, France151 contributions
Oct 2019
I walked by this church several times before venturing inside. It's an amazing building which has been beautifully restored. It was lovely and quiet inside, very peaceful.
Written November 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
KTGP
Adelaide, Australia5,904 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
Basilica of Saint Martin d'Ainay, located in the Presqu'île district was once part of a prosperous and powerful abbey.
The Benedictine abbey was founded in 859 and there are records of a church at the same time. Reconstruction of the church took place in the 10th century and was consecrated in 1107. By the 13th century the abbey had become wealthy and powerful, however by the 14th century there was a decline in the abbey, due to the plague. The War of Religion in 1562 decimated the abbey and damaged the church, which were eventually restored but by the 18th century, Saint Martin d'Ainay had become a parish church. During the French Revolution the church sustains damage again, when it is used for grain storage. It was enlarged and renovated in the Romanesque Revival style during the 19th century. Listed as Monument Historique in 1840 and it became a basilica in 1905.
Saint Martin d'Ainay is not large and grandiose but it is charming, with a beautiful interior, one of the best churches in Lyon. Should you find yourself in Place Bellecour only 750 metres away, (Google Maps) with some time on your hands, take a detour.
The Benedictine abbey was founded in 859 and there are records of a church at the same time. Reconstruction of the church took place in the 10th century and was consecrated in 1107. By the 13th century the abbey had become wealthy and powerful, however by the 14th century there was a decline in the abbey, due to the plague. The War of Religion in 1562 decimated the abbey and damaged the church, which were eventually restored but by the 18th century, Saint Martin d'Ainay had become a parish church. During the French Revolution the church sustains damage again, when it is used for grain storage. It was enlarged and renovated in the Romanesque Revival style during the 19th century. Listed as Monument Historique in 1840 and it became a basilica in 1905.
Saint Martin d'Ainay is not large and grandiose but it is charming, with a beautiful interior, one of the best churches in Lyon. Should you find yourself in Place Bellecour only 750 metres away, (Google Maps) with some time on your hands, take a detour.
Written August 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
B d A
Athens, Greece853 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
Located in the historic centre. Read Blandina's martyrdom. The lions refused to eat her in the amphithetre. Edifice romanesque mixed with gothic. Restrained but with immense strength. Massive walls. Discretly positioned thus you have to be insistent and specific when asking in the vicinity. Opening hours more eclectic, check. Stained glass, mosaic and roman pillars of the greatest interest. Sense of space and compartmentalization of great interest. A little town in itself.
Written July 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
rowl2112
Lyon, France167 contributions
Apr 2015 • Family
Certainly the oldest church in Lyon in The Ainay district. The pillars are Roman pillars transported here when the church of an Abbey was built.
This the place where I was christened (no need to look for a plaque to commemorate the event lol!!!
This the place where I was christened (no need to look for a plaque to commemorate the event lol!!!
Written January 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Marion M
Nyon District, Switzerland479 contributions
Dec 2022
Not only the Abbaye to see but also the crypt and there are volunteers walking around only too happy to give you information on the things to see and stories about them. Very old buildings this is worth a visit
Written January 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
tcipolla
Phoenix, AZ8 contributions
Jul 2019
This place took my breath away. I am a big fan of mosaics and there are some remarkable ones in this church. Also the entire church was recently worked on and the exterior is in amazing condition. A visit here will take you less than an hour of poking around and it will be one of the best parts of any trip to Lyon.
Written September 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Blossom55
Melbourne, Vic. Australia1,313 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
An old church with distinctive and not so ornate architecture. Easy to access from the Saone river bank. Not quite like the Basilica but a nice little church nevertheless.
Written May 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Saida Z
1 contribution
Hi, any chance I can have info on the restauration undertaken on the XIXe century?
Thank you
KTGP
Adelaide, Australia5,904 contributions
Type in Abbaye de Saint Martin d'Ainay under Google and choose the third option, (used Mozilla Firefox on Google search) which has the following-
Abbaye St Martin d'Ainay - Lyon
There is a section on the XIX restoration in French. Hope you find it, as links to websites can't be given in Q&A, TA forums, which isn't very useful when people have queries.
Abbaye de Saint Martin d'Ainay (Lyon) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Abbaye de Saint Martin d'Ainay
- Hotels near Abbaye de Saint Martin d'Ainay:
- (0.02 mi) Hôtel de l'Abbaye
- (0.07 mi) Hotel Vaubecour
- (0.10 mi) Hotel Alexandra
- (0.07 mi) Une Nuit Au Second
- (0.11 mi) Avy Residence Hoteliere
- Restaurants near Abbaye de Saint Martin d'Ainay:
- (0.03 mi) L'Artichaut
- (0.03 mi) L Artichaud
- (0.03 mi) Table et Vins d'Ainay
- (0.06 mi) Two Amigos Ampere
- (0.10 mi) Cafe Comptoir Abel