The third largest city in France. Its population has long exceeded one million. Despite this, he has not lost his attractiveness and charm. The city is quite compact; the main attractions are concentrated in the Old part of the city and can be explored within walking distance. Despite this, the city has an extensive system public transport, which includes the local metro, tram line, funicular and bus routes.
Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France, with its local cuisine. On restaurant menus you will find many dishes with the name of the city added - these are the dishes that can only be tasted here. Also, the city’s culinary achievements include several specific sweets.
Lyon has ancient history. Initially, the city belonged to the Gallic tribes, then came into the possession of the Romans, traces of which can still be found here. Now the city is divided into two parts: the old part (more attractive for tourists) and the modern city near the railway station (more attractive part for local residents, since this is where the main shopping centers). In this article I will not tell you much about the new part of the city, since there are no historical sights there, but I will move straight to more tourist routes.
What to see in Lyon
The parts of the city are connected to each other by numerous bridges across the Rhone and Saone rivers. Surely, while walking around the city, you will cross them more than once. Stop on the bridge and look at the embankments - all the buildings located along the embankments are like a choice! This is where the spirit of Lyon begins.
The embankments of Lyon are very picturesque
On one of the banks you can find such a monument in the rock.
The part of the city between the Rhone and Saone rivers is especially rich in attractions. Here you will find:
- one of the largest squares in Europe. In the center of the square stands an equestrian monument to Louis XIV and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (the latter was erected not so long ago, in 2000). In winter, the square turns into a central place for New Year's festivities.
New Year's Christmas market on Place Bellecour
Hotel Dieu. The building topped with a dome was recognized in 2011 architectural monument. This is magnificent architectural ensemble, located on the city embankment. It is beautifully illuminated in the evening.
Palace of the Exchange. A picturesque building in baroque and classicism style, which is located between two central squares cities - Bellecourt and Terreault.
The Exchange building is difficult to photograph: it is very beautiful and very large.
Church of Saint-Nizier. The building is located on the ruins of a Roman temple. The temple itself was rebuilt several times. The oldest surviving part of it is the crypt, dating back to the 6th century.
When constructing a modern building, the architects sought to preserve characteristic features facade of the old opera building, built in 1831. The hall itself is small for a city with a population of one million, but the opera stage hosts high-quality performances.
One of the most beautiful squares in the city. The square is framed by a complex of picturesque buildings, one of which is the Town Hall, and the other is the Lyon Museum of Fine Arts. In the middle of the square stands a fountain - the Chariot of Freedom. You definitely won't be able to pass by it. The author of this amazingly beautiful fountain is the sculptor F. Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty for the United States.
Quarter Croix – Rousse or the weavers' district. It was in Lyon that the first weaving loom was invented and after that the city became the capital of weaving production. The weaving community grew rapidly and they needed more space, so they began to settle in the new area. Now there is nothing left of the weaving spirit in this area, but its atmosphere and narrow streets attract many tourists.
Small fortress in the weavers' area
After crossing the Saone River you find yourself in Old town . Narrow streets and an abundance of local restaurants distinguish this part of the city. Here Lyon is transformed and appears completely different. The main attractions of this part of the city are traboules . Traboules are a feature of Lyon architecture. These are through passages through buildings that connected streets to each other. Since the historical part of the city is located on a hill, to move from one street to another you will need to walk for a long time up the hill (or down it), or use a traboule. Traboules have the most different shapes. In some places they look like galleries, in others they look like ordinary stairs. Many traboules are closed to the public (to protect the peace of local residents), but some of them can still be visited.
These are the streets that lead to traboules
One of the traboules open to the public
is another attraction of the old part of the city. She is included in the list world heritage UNESCO. The basilica is located on a hill. At night, it is beautifully illuminated and visible from anywhere in the city.
The Basilica of Notre-Dame des Fourvières is visible from anywhere in the city
To get to it you can use the funicular. By the way, it is part of the public transport system, and you can transfer to it from the metro with a single ticket. Near the basilica there is an observation deck from which you can see beautiful view to the city. There is also a cozy and small park nearby, where it’s nice to sit on a summer day.
View of the city from the observation deck near the basilica.
Next to the basilica rises metal tower , which is an imitation Eiffel Tower.
Located on Fourvière Hill, not far from the Basilica. To get there you will have to take the funicular from the Basilica down and transfer to the funicular that goes in the other direction. The amphitheater recalls the times when the city was owned by the Romans. It is perfectly preserved and is now available for inspection. In the summer, all kinds of festivals and performances take place on the stage of the amphitheater.
The Halo-Roman amphitheater consists of two stages: large and small.
The city's central cathedral gothic style. The cathedral has preserved an ancient clock from the 14th century, which once a day delights tourists with its ringing, to which dolls dance.
Beyond the Rhone River there is a huge zoological steam - . This impressive park includes botanical garden with greenhouses, a zoo where giraffes, flamingos and other animals roam freely, and a classic park, which is so pleasant to wander around at any time of the year. Entrance to the park is free. In summer, you can enjoy the lush bloom of roses and take a boat ride on the lake located in the center of the park.
You can find many secluded alleys in the park
Inside the greenhouses you can find real tropics!
A wide variety of flowers grow in greenhouses
Small zoo in the park
You can also see flamingos walking around the zoological park.
The deer look at the spectators with interest.
Several buildings can be found in the park.
Outside the park is modern building Interpol . The entrance there is naturally closed, and the building itself is under the strictest security, but no one will forbid you to admire it from the outside.
Museums of Lyon.
If you are a big fan of museums, then in Lyon you will find museums to suit every taste. Here are a few of them:
Museum of Fine Arts , which ranks second in importance after the Paris Louvre
House-Museum of the Lumiere Brothers , where they conducted their first experiments in the field of cinema.
Confluence Museum – modern museum natural history.
Museum of Miniatures and Film Decorations – if you are a fan of cinema, then here you will find a lot of interesting things for yourself.
Museum of Gallo-Roman Civilization , telling about the tribes living in the territory of Lyon and about the archaeological finds found here.
Gadan Museum – tells about the history of Lyon. The museum's exhibition includes a huge exhibition of puppets collected from all over the world.
In addition, on the streets of Lyon you can find many frescoes that decorate the facades of buildings. The frescoes are so realistic that sometimes you don’t immediately realize that they were painted.
Another fresco on the library building
I can talk about Lyon endlessly. You can talk about its architecture, cuisine, local residents. But I won’t do this, because I need to leave a little mystery for you! Travel to Lyon and feel its spirit. For each of these, the city opens up from a special side.
Lyon can provide a breathtaking journey to magical world art, beauty, grace and history. Stock up on energy and time - and forward, towards the beautiful!
Perhaps start your journey through Lyon museums tourists should come here, because the exposition of this exhibition complex gives a complete immersion in history and tells about where Lyon actually began. The museum exhibits tell about different historical eras, starting from the founding of the city and ending with the 7th century AD.
Of course, there are a lot of all kinds of archaeological finds here - shards, fragments, jewelry, statues, weapons, sarcophagi and other artifacts. The pavilion dedicated to martial art ancient Romans and Gauls.
The most valuable exhibits Among the museum's highlights are the Claudian Tables, a particularly rare mosaic depicting ancient games, a 2nd century Gaulish calendar, and a bronze ceremonial chariot.
The museum, opened in 1975, is located on the Fourvière hill, in a building designed by the architect Zehrfus, at 17 rue Cléberg. Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm.
It’s interesting that you can get here by cable car and thus get double the pleasure!
Gadan Museum
Some Lyon museums combines two in one. Like, for example, the Gadan Museum, located in the very heart of the city, in a beautiful historical building of the 16th century. Tourists are presented with two exhibitions: historical museum and the puppet museum.
So where does this name come from - Gadan? The fact is that wealthy Florentine bankers, brothers named Gadagne, initially worked together on this building, significantly changing its appearance. However, then, having quarreled, they divided it into two parts - perhaps that is why today there is not one, but two Lyon Museum.
After the restoration, which was completed in 2009, the area of the exhibition complex expanded significantly - up to 6.3 thousand square meters. The exhibition of the historical museum includes about 80 thousand exhibits, which are located in 30 museum halls. Be prepared to spend a couple of hours examining them: hundreds of historical artifacts will flash before your eyes - archaeological finds, sculptures, paintings, ceramics, furniture, ancient engravings and much more.
Climbing to the third floor of the building, you will find yourself in the tiny Gadan Theater, designed for only 150 spectators. Today, all kinds of concerts, seminars, and performances with the participation of puppets are held here.
On the fourth floor of the Gadan Museum there is an idyllic garden in the spirit of the Middle Ages with neat flower beds.
The second museum located here is dedicated to puppets. It opened in 1950. Initially, the exhibition was dedicated to just one character originally from Lyon – Guignol, invented in 1808, but subsequently the museum’s collection grew to two thousand dolls. You can see these wonderful creatures in nine halls on the first floor of the museum.
The Gadagne Museum is located at Place du Petit College, 1. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
There is one Lyon Museum, France something he can be truly proud of. We are talking about the Tony Garnier City Museum. It opened in 1985 as a large-scale project to restore the city's historic quarter and is dedicated to the great architect.
An important role in the creation of the museum was played by local residents. Since 1934, the Garnier quarter, which for a long time was a kind of natural oasis in the middle of a noisy city, has never been renovated and, of course, began to look very untidy. But, thanks to the efforts of the townspeople, it was possible to get the authorities not only to restore the quarter, but also to improve its cultural significance– of course, not without the participation of artists.
So the quarter turned into a fantastic museum under open air. Also interesting are the authentic buildings erected by the architect himself, and the street murals on the walls that depict the industrial city, architectural landmarks of Lyon and modern vision ideal city. The paintings are very beautifully illuminated in the evenings and look inimitable. It is also curious that six murals were created by artists from six parts of the world, among them there is the work of the Russian master Grigory Shestakov.
The museum is interesting not only from the outside, but also from the inside. Visitors can take a peek inside the architect's recreated 1930 apartment, converted into exhibition hall, the exhibits of which are curious historical items from the era of the 30s. Be sure to visit this museum and meet one of the most brilliant French architects of the 20th century, the creator of the Grange Blanche Hospital and the Guerlain Stadium, as well as the teacher of a whole generation of talented architects in Lyon.
Museum of Fine Arts, Lyon
Perhaps this is the most interesting museum in Lyon for tourists of all ages. Let's start with the fact that it is located in a historical building that formerly housed the female Benedictine Order. In 1805, a art school, designers and masters of silk production emerged from its walls. Since the 60s of the 19th century, a museum was opened here, but its exhibition includes not only works fine arts, but also other interesting artifacts, in particular from the period Ancient Egypt.
Among paintings, which are especially valued by the museum, let's name the masterpieces of the great Monet, Poussin, Renoir, Rubens, Tintoretto and Delacroix.
The museum is located at Place des Terreaux 20. It is open daily, except Tuesday, from 10:30 to 18 hours.
African Museum, Lyon
The original private and also the oldest museum dedicated to the mystical African culture, was founded back in 1861 by Catholic missionaries. Augustin Planck, head of the Society of African Missions, obliged his wards who worked in West Africa to bring interesting objects of religious and material culture to France.
Today, the museum’s very impressive area of 759 square meters houses more than two thousand exhibits. The exhibition is divided into three themes: everyday life, social life and religion of Africa. I must say that a walk through the museum gives you a complete feeling of immersion in the enchanting world of exoticism - you can’t miss this!
Museum address: Cours Gambetta, 150. Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 14 to 18 hours.
Museum of Miniatures, Lyon
In an old 14th-century mansion there is an amazing museum – the Museum of Miniatures and Film Sets. Of course, Lyon, as the homeland of the Lumière brothers, cannot do without him!
The creator of the museum is Dan Allman, a traveler who brought filming props from each of his trips around the world. These exhibits became the basis of the exhibition.
On five whole floors museum of miniatures in Lyon All sorts of interesting things are presented: more than 12 exhibits that took part in the filming, as well as 60 miniatures created by Allman himself.
Do you like "Terminator" or "Men in Black"? Want to see the iconic Indiana Jones hat? In this museum your dreams will come true! The most impressive exhibit is a seven-meter ship, which can be seen in the Star Wars film.
Allman's miniatures deserve special attention. They are worked out in such detail that you can’t even believe that these are just copies of things. You can spend hours looking at tiny apartments, bars and medieval castles. For those who like to tickle their nerves separate room with exhibits from horror films.
Museum address: 60 Rue Saint-Jean. The museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lumière Brothers Museum
Grateful Lyon remembers its great natives - the Lumière brothers, who gave the world cinema. In the residential building where they were born, various inventions of the brothers and their equally gifted father are collected. It is curious that it was near this house that the world's first film called “Workers Exit from the Lumiere Factory” was shot.
Museum address: rue du Premier-Film 25. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6:30 pm.
And even this is not all of the museums in Lyon. Well, it's time to go on an excursion?..
Posted inFrom the very beginning of our era, Lyon played a leading economic and administrative role in the region. Roman emperors were born here, the first Christian churches were built and the largest fairs took place. Thanks to such a rich history, ancient amphitheaters and baroque mansions peacefully coexist in the city XIX century.
Lyon is home to many museums that are of particular value throughout France. Local cathedrals have retained the outlines of the Early Middle Ages, despite the heavy layer of centuries. The old city quarters are full of architectural surprises that enthusiastic tourists discover. A walk around Lyon is an unforgettable excursion into two thousand years of history, delight in local cuisine and, of course, vivid impressions from a truly French atmosphere.
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What to see and where to go in Lyon?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walks. Photos and brief description.
Historical quarter at the foot of Fourvière hill. Once upon a time there was an ancient settlement of the Gauls in this place. Concentrated in Old Lyon large number attractions, there are restaurants serving traditional cuisine - bouchons. The main development of the territory occurred in the period of the XII-XVI centuries. Old Lyon is a collection of three quarters: Saint-Georges, Saint-Jean and Saint-Paul.
A place where weavers moved en masse for permanent residence in the 19th century. The name of the quarter comes from the Croix-Rousse hill of the same name. As you know, Lyon early XIX century became the center of the country's textile industry, since it was here that the loom was invented. The professional community of weaving factory workers grew rapidly, they needed more living space, and as a result, weavers chose Croix-Rousse.
Traboules are unique feature Lyon architecture. They are through passages through buildings that connect different streets. Traboules were built in different architectural formats - in the form of covered galleries, alleys and narrow passages. Nowadays, these elements of the urban environment have turned into tourist attractions. Mainly, traboules are concentrated in the historical part of Lyon.
A picturesque square in the center of Lyon, which began to be actively developed in the 17th century. In the 19th century, Napoleonic military parades took place here; today this place is one of the busiest in the city. In the central part of the square there is a monument in honor of the “Sun King” Louis XIV, created by sculptor F. Lemo. The brilliant monarch is depicted as a powerful Roman emperor.
The town hall was built in mid-17th century century according to the project of S. Maupin. The building's façade overlooks Place Terro, which centuries ago was just a dirty city market. Thanks to the construction of the town hall, Terreau was transformed and became the administrative center of Lyon. The architecture of the city council building is dominated by the Baroque style, the interior is decorated valuable works art.
The sculptural group of the fountain is located on Terro Square. It was created according to the design of the sculptor F. Bartholdi, who was the author of the famous American Statue of Liberty. The master was building a fountain for the city of Bordeaux, but the city authorities decided that they did not have enough funds to finance the project. As a result, the fountain was sold to Lyon. However, there is a legend that the Lyons simply stole the fountain from Bordeaux.
The main city temple, built in the XII-XV centuries. For its construction, materials obtained from the ruins of ancient Roman buildings were used. The architecture of the cathedral harmoniously combines Romanesque and Gothic styles. The temple was looted during French Revolution. It took one century for the authorities to undertake its restoration. The cathedral was restored only at the beginning of the 20th century.
Temple two half of the 19th century century, located on top of Fourvière hill. It was erected on the site of a 12th-century basilica that was destroyed during the confrontation between Catholics and Huguenots. Notre-Dame de Fourviere owes its appearance to the events of 1870, when the townspeople prayed for protection for Lyon from Prussian troops and promised to build a temple if heavenly powers will condescend to their requests. As a result, the enemy army never reached the city.
The temple is dedicated to Saint Niketios, who lived in Lyon back in the 6th century. The church is located in the Presqu'ille quarter. The structure was built in the Early Middle Ages on the ruins of a Roman temple; since then it has been rebuilt many times. The last major reconstruction was carried out in the 16th century. The oldest room in the church is the crypt, dating back to the 6th century. It is located in the temple dungeons.
The temple adorns the embankment of the Saone River. The church was built in the Gothic style. Judging by written evidence, it has existed since the 9th century, but the modern building was erected later - in the 16th-17th centuries. The last reconstruction was carried out in 1844 according to the design of P. Bossan. During the restoration and addition of new elements, we tried to preserve the original medieval appearance of the structure as much as possible.
The museum ranks second in cultural significance after the Louvre in Paris, as it has a priceless collection of works of art from the 15th to 20th centuries. The museum collections contain exhibits belonging to the era of Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome and Greece. Until the 17th century, the museum building housed a Benedictine monastery, which was reconstructed by order of Louis XIV. In the 19th century, an art school was located here.
In Lyon, the Lumière brothers staged their first experiments in the field of cinema. The museum, named after the pioneers of cinema, is located in the former Lumière family workshop. Here the brothers lived, worked and conducted experiments on transmitting images to a screen. The museum's collection includes ancient films, photographic plates, the first "cinematography" equipment, as well as the very first films.
A modern museum of natural history, opened in 2015. The futuristic building that houses the collection was designed by an Austrian architectural bureau. Confluence is not only a static exhibition; the building also houses many classrooms, a bookstore, workshops, and a cafe. The project cost 185 million euros. The building really turned out grandiose and looked like an alien spaceship.
The museum collection is located in an ancient 16th-century mansion – the House of Lawyers. The building is of great historical value and is under UNESCO protection. The exhibition is quite original, as it allows you to look behind the scenes of the “dream factory” and understand how blockbuster films are created. The museum exhibits miniatures of interiors, buildings, and scenery that were used in the filming of famous films.
The museum was founded in 1975. It is located in a historical location on the Fourvière hill - where a Gallo-Roman settlement existed since ancient times. The exhibition consists of archaeological finds obtained as a result of excavations in Lyon and the surrounding area. By studying local artifacts, you can get an impression of how the daily life Gauls and Romans, which religious beliefs dominated that era and how people spent their free time.
The building belongs to the era of Ancient Rome, it was erected in the 1st century BC. e. In the second century after the advent of our era, the theater was expanded and began to accommodate up to 10 thousand people. Mostly they played on stage musical comedies, as evidenced by stone wall, which perfectly reflects sound waves and creates a good stereo effect. The theater was excavated in the 19th century, and a number of restoration works have been carried out since the beginning of the 20th century.
The ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater located on the slopes of Croix-Rousse. During the period of the rule of the Roman Empire, the “Council of the Three Gauls” - the imperial provinces of Belgica, Lugdunian Gaul and Aquitaine - gathered at this place. This event was always accompanied by magnificent celebrations, games and performances that took place on the territory of the amphitheater. The scene was discovered as a result of excavations in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Architectural monument of the 17th century. Initially, the building was used as a hotel for visiting clergy, then it was converted into a hospital. It should be noted that the hospital is still functioning. The building was built in classic style and is crowned with a monumental dome. In 2011, the complex was recognized as an architectural monument and the process of moving existing medical institutions beyond its boundaries began.
Lyon's opera stage, housed in a building built in 1993. First musical theater appeared in Lyon in the middle XVIII century. But, as often happens, the building became dilapidated and was demolished, replaced with a more modern and spacious one. But while retaining some of the historical elements of the 1831 façade. Auditorium modern construction has a capacity of 1,100 seats, which is not very much for Lyon, given its half a million population.
A magnificent building in the classicist and baroque style, decorating the space between the central Bellecourt and Terro squares. The building was erected in the 19th century during the time of Lyon's greatest economic prosperity. The grand facade consists of many arched windows, columns and decorative elements. The interior is artfully decorated sculptural compositions and paintings by skilled craftsmen.
Metal structure erected in late XIX centuries in imitation of the Parisian Eiffel Tower. Since the middle of the 20th century, the structure has been used as a television tower. The height of the structure reaches 85.9 meters, the height above the level of the Saone River is 350 meters, which corresponds to the parameters of the Eiffel Tower. The structure was erected in opposition to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere as a monument of Republican architecture.
A street mural decorating the facade of one of the buildings on the Croix-Rousse hill. The painting was created in 1986, but since then the image has been significantly expanded. The painting depicts the daily life of the residents of the quarter, houses, stairs, people, townspeople relaxing on the terraces and visiting shops. From a distance, the drawing seems very realistic; at first it is difficult to understand where the real characters are and where they are drawn.
A unique fresco depicting events from the history of France. The painting was created in the 90s. XX century. In the spotlight - famous personalities who left their mark on the history of the country, artists and even book characters. On the fresco you can see A. de Saint-Exupéry, the Lumiere brothers, P. Bocuse, Emperor Claudius and other historical figures. The fresco is made very skillfully and creates the effect of a picture come to life.
A city park in the northern part of Lyon, which is considered the largest in France. Within its boundaries there is a zoo, a botanical garden, rose gardens, areas for cycling and sports. There are also artificial reservoirs where you can take a boat ride. The park was formed in mid-19th centuries on lands that once belonged to the aristocratic family of Lambert.
An annual festival of light that takes place in Lyon in December and lasts for 3 consecutive nights. The history of the holiday began in XVII century, when grateful citizens praised the Virgin Mary for ridding the city of the plague and lit lights in the streets in her honor. During the festival, spectators are shown whimsical light installations. At this time, about 4 million tourists from different countries and from France itself.
