Visit Lyon

Take a moment to enjoy this lovely view of the city! You're in the Parc des Hauteurs, literally the park of Heights. It links the Basilique de Fourvière and the centre of Vieux-Lyon through wooded slopes and flower gardens. Laid out in 1989 with the aim of sustaining the site of the Fourvière hill and enabling the people of Lyon to move Read more

You arrive in front of the Place de la Basoche, where a beautiful lion statue waits for you. This square is surrounded by pretty, colorful houses with Tuscan galleries, presenting a fine example of the Renaissance architecture, also characteristic of the Vieux-Lyon district. In 1406, the square was home to an annex of the Palais de Justice Read more

The central square of Vieux-Lyon, Place Saint-Jean is the oldest in the city. Overlooked by the Saint-Jean-Baptiste cathedral, Lyon's largest and most important church, the square features a fountain representing an ancient temple and a sculpture of Saint John the Baptist. The cathedral, formerly known as the Primatiale des Gaules Read more

You're standing at the entrance to the Longue Traboule, at number 54 rue Saint-Jean. It is the longest traboule in Vieux-Lyon! Crossing five courtyards and four buildings, it links the two most important streets of the district, rue Saint-Jean and rue du Bœuf. Read more

Right in front of you, elegantly set in the heart of the Vieux-Lyon, stands the Charvet clock. Come take a closer look to this very special clock! It's made up of 5 bells - no surprise there - but look even closer at the 4 automatons that surround them. Read more

You are now in rue Juiverie, the heart of the old Jewish quarter. Here I suggest you to look up slightly and observe the various coats of arms hanging on either side of the street. These are the coats of arms of the town's various aldermen, from Guy de la Mure in 1294 to Jacques Imbert Colomès Read more

This is the Place Saint-Paul, part of the district of the same name, and one of the three districts of Vieux-Lyon. It was laid out at the same time as the railway station, on your left, which opened in 1876. It now serves Lyon's western suburbs. At the beginning of the 20th century, this square was the departure point for the Loyasse Read more

If you are found of learning more about Lyon’s history you absolutely have to see this fresco, painted in 1995. The 800 m² mural depicts 30 famous figures from Lyon who have left their mark on the city through their deeds or their talent. It includes 24 historical figures and 6 contemporary figures: the latter are located at the very Read more

One of the liveliest squares on the Peninsula! With its expansive terraces and exceptional setting, Place des Terreaux appeals to both locals going out for a drink and visitors who appreciate history. The reason? The Town Hall, inaugurated in 1672 and restored in the 19th century, stands at the far end of the square and is one of Lyon's Read more

Welcome to the National Opera of Lyon, a cultural haven where art comes alive. Located on the Place de la Comédie, opposite the City Hall, this iconic venue invites you to immerse yourself in a world of concerts, operas and ballets. Originally constructed in 1831, the building was redesigned in 1993 by Jean Novel Read more

Here you are in Lyon's emblematic rue Mercière! This, now, pedestrian street is lined with restaurants on both sides. Here you are sure to find something to delight your taste buds. Indeed, Lyon bears the title of capital of gastronomy. This street is the home to several of Lyon's typical restaurants named “bouchon”.  Read more

You're standing on the quays of the Saône river. Enjoy this lovely view of Vieux-Lyon and the Basilique de Fourvière dominating the hill! The Saône, along with the Rhône, is a river that flows through Lyon, separating the Old Lyon and the Presqu'île. It springs in the Vosges mountains and flows over 450 km into the Rhône Read more

This is the magnificent Théâtre des Célestins. Located a stone's throw from the quays in the 2nd district, this Italian-style theatre is one of the only theatres to have seen over two centuries of dramatic art. Reduced to ashes in 1871, the Lyonnais architect Gaspard André undertook the task to rebuilt it. Read more

This square has, pretty much always, been an important gathering place for the people of Lyon. In his famous novel Pantagruel, François Rabelais wrote about this place, formerly known as Place Confort, characterizing the residents as the "chatterboxs of Confort”. Now known as Place des Jacobins Read more

Here you are in the heart of Lyon's shopping streets, at the start of the famous rue de la République, where you'll find all the big brands at the foot of beautiful 19th-century buildings. Commonly known by the locals as "rue de la Ré", it is the Presqu'île's main thoroughfare and also it’s longest street. Read more

You are now entering Lyon's Grand Hôtel Dieu. Hôtel-Dieu’s were charitable institutions founded and run by religious orders, usually Christian, with the aim of providing medical care and charitable services to the sick and needy. These ancient and precious hospitals can be found in most French cities. Read more

Few are aware of it, including the inhabitants of Lyon, but a true tribute to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry can be found here. Look up, he is there, sitting over 5 metres high next to his most famous figure: the Little Prince. This reknowned French writer and pilot was born in Lyon in 1900 and joined the French Air Force during the Second Read more

Welcome to one of the must-see places in the city of Lyon - Place Bellecour. It is one of the largest pedestrian squares in Europe and the third largest in France, after the place des Quinconces in Bordeaux and Place de la Concorde in Paris. As you can see its dimensions are impressive. Read more

To your left, the building that blends in seamlessly with the backdrop of the Tilsitt quay is the Synagogue of Lyon. Look all the way to the top of it. You might notice a Star of David on the window of the top floor, however, it is probably the only element indicating it's a synagogue. Read more

Savor this stunning panorama! It belongs to the city's most breathtaking views! In front of you, you’ll see the Saint-Georges Church, marking the entrance to the neighborhood of the same name. This area was once home to the Canuts, the Lyonnais silk workers, who later settled in the Croix-Rousse district. Read more

You're entering Vieux Lyon, the iconic district of the city! There is no doubt that you will be amazed of how different this area is, from the rest of Lyon. Don’t you feel like you've stepped into a picturesque village? That’s not surprising. Vieux Lyon is a Renaissance district, the largest in Europe after Venice, and one of the best preserved! Read more

Trinity Square is located at the heart of the Saint-Georges district and was, at the time, a vibrant and essential place for the residents. This is where the stage for Guignol's shows was set up. Guignol is the iconic character of Lyon, created in 1808, just a few years after the Revolution. Read more

The montée du Gourguillon is one of the oldest Gallo-Roman roads in Lyon. In other words, it's over 2,000 years old! For a long time, it was the only road linking the Saint-Jean district in Vieux-Lyon to the Saint-Just basilica which is perched on the hill. It has been used by many people, including kings, princes and popes! Read more