All the different districts in Lyon abound with treasures, past and present! If you enjoy architecture and all its different styles, you're in for a real treat!
Lyon is the result of 2,000 years of history, and is still growing and preserving the fruits of its past, which explains why it now ranks on UNESCO's world heritage list. Civil and religious sites and monuments, the oldest of which date back to antiquity, are dotted throughout the city's various districts.
Numerous great architects have helped embellish the city over the centuries: Philibert de l'Orme, Soufflot, Jules Hardoin-Mansart, Tony Garnier, Pierre Bossan, Jean Nouvel, Santiago Calatrava… they were also assisted by anonymous talents, such as the stonemasons who carved their initials on the slabs of stone that form the cathedral walls. Can you identify them?
Here are some of the loveliest and/or most original, and well worth seeing.
Lugdunum Roman Theatres of Lyon
The place in which Lugdunum was founded in 43 BC by Munatius Plancus includes the Grand Théâtre (tragedies and comedies), the Odéon (music, reading),...
Basilica of Fourviere
Fourvière Basilica is an iconic building that overlooks the whole of Lyon. A "Marian fortress" on the outside, the inside is richly decorated with...
Courtyards and Traboules of Vieux-Lyon
Traboules, these shortcuts in the form of internal passage, allow to communicate from a street to the other one by crossing one or several buildings...
Flower Tree
The 85-flower “Flower Tree” bouquet created by the Korean artist Jeong Hwa Choi was exhibited on Place Antonin Poncet during Lyon's contemporary art...
Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls
Built in 19 AD above the Gallic market town of Condatum, outside the Roman city, the Amphitheatre was extended a century later at Hadrian's request...
Cité Internationale
The "Cite International" was realized from 1992 till 1999 by the architect Renzo PIANO and the landscape painter Michel CORAJOUD. It includes centres...
Halle Tony Garnier
This building, built between 1909 and 1928 by architect Tony Garnier, was used as a slaughterhouse and cattle market until 1967, and known as La...
River Sâone banks
Make the most of the peace and quiet of the banks of the Saône thanks to the pedestrian promenade, and its alternating urban and pastoral...
Saint Martin d'Ainay Basilica - Abbey
The only Roman church in Lyon from the end of the 11th c., built on the site of the 4th c. Benedictine abbey.
Fort de Vaise
The fort was built between 1830 and 1834. The building, made from Couzon stone, includes an entrance with an observation bunker from 1847, prison...
Visit of the Church Saint Bruno les Chartreux
Enter the only baroque church in Lyon on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse district.
Eglise Saint Bonaventure
Built in 1220, renovated from 1325-1331, it reached its current size at the end of the 15th c. Used to store grain between the Revolution and 1803. It...
Saint John's Cathedral
The cathedral was built from 1180 to 1480 and is 79m long, 26m wide and 32m high (main arch). Its frontage dates from the start of the 14th c. The...
Opéra de Lyon
Topped by a majestic dome, the old theatre was restored by Jean Nouvel. He tripled the size of the building by digging out five levels beneath the...
Eglise Saint Nizier
Built in 177 AD on the site where the martyrs met to break their bread, in 579 it was named Saint Nizier (the bishop buried there). Sacked by the...
Lyon City Hall
Thomas Blanchet (1614-1689) accomplished one of the most beautiful painted Baroque decors in France here in around 1655. Jules Hardouin-Mansart also...
Temple du Change
Built from 1748 to 1750 by architect Jean-Baptiste Roche, though the plans and elevations were provided by Soufflot. The Loge du Change was used by...
Eglise Saint Paul - Chapelle Sainte Marguerite
Built in 549 AD on the remains of a temple of Diana, it was entirely destroyed by the Saracens. Rebuilt from 1084 to 1106, it was finished in the 13th...
Chapelle Expiatoire - "La Croix Glorieuse"
Built from 1898 to 1901 and blessed in 1906 by the architect Pascalon in the Neo-Byzantine style. Since 1906, the crypt has housed the bones of...
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