Basilique Saint-Laurent de Choulans, Archaeological site and church ruins in 5th arrondissement of Lyon, France
The Basilique Saint-Laurent de Choulans is an archaeological site featuring church ruins from early Christian times in Lyon's 5th arrondissement. The remains show a semicircular apse, side extensions, and a three-part transept, with the overall structure measuring roughly 50 by 20 meters.
The site began as a church in early Christian times and underwent major structural changes during the 3rd and 4th centuries. It maintained its religious function as a chapel until the 18th century, when it was eventually abandoned.
The church served as a major burial ground and gathering place for Lyon's Christian community over many centuries. The different types of graves reveal how people of various social standing used this sacred location.
You can view the archaeological remains through a glass enclosure from the street without entering the site. For deeper exploration and more detailed information, take a guided tour organized by the Gallo-Roman Museum.
This was once a bustling burial ground where people from different eras and social classes rested side by side. Archaeological digs between 1976 and 1985 uncovered evidence of continuous settlement from the 1st to 5th century, painting a vivid picture of the evolving Christian community.
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