Visiting Lyon means discovering a city with a rich history and culture, with beautiful old districts and numerous museums. Here are our top 7 things to discover!
1 – Old Lyon
Dating back to medieval times, the Old Lyon district is one of the oldest parts of the city! It has some surprising cobbled streets, a large cathedral and unusual museums. This is also where you’ll find Lyon’s famous bouchons.
2 – Cathédrale Saint-Jean
In the heart of old Lyon, Saint-Jean Cathedral is a real architectural gem. It boasts one of the world’s largest collections of religious objects and relics, the oldest of which date back to the Byzantine era. Its façade features a huge 14th-century astronomical clock, one of the oldest in Europe.
3 – Fourvière Hill
The Fourvière hill is one of Lyon’s most emblematic and visited sites! It’s a long walk to the top, but the panoramic view over the whole city, with the Alps and Mont Blanc in the background, is well worth the effort!
4 – Bellecour Place
Whether you want to visit Lyon, go shopping, go to the cinema or simply hit the bars, it all starts from Bellecour. Recognised as Europe’s largest pedestrian square, this vast red earth esplanade offers a breathtaking view of Fourvière.
5 – Croix Rousse
Situated in the hills above Lyon, the Croix Rousse district is highly unusual.
The people of Lyon describe it as a village within a city! La Croix Rousse is the former district of the canuts, the silk workers whose revolt irrevocably marked the history of Lyon.
6 – Tête d’Or park
The city’s largest park, this is a very popular spot with the people of Lyon.It’s the ideal place for outdoor activities.You can choose to visit the free zoo, the rose garden, the botanical garden, take a train ride or go pedalling on the lake.
7 – Confluences Museum
Located in the modern district of the same name, the Musée des Confluences, with its futuristic architecture, is situated on the banks of the Rhône.It offers permanent exhibitions on the origins of life, including an archaeological section, another on representations of death and a final section on man-made societies and civilisations.
And what are your must-see places in Lyon ?