Lyon, third largest city in France, offers neat and harmonic historical built-up with several magnificent jewels in it's architectural crown. It has some building ruins dating back to Roman times, medieval churches, Neo-Rennaissance quarters and 19th Century palace-style buildings. But one of the strongest magnets of the city is the cityscapes and panoramic perspectives which derives from it's natural advantages - hilly relief, as well as distinctive natural setting between the two rivers.
MAIN SIGHTSEEING PLACES OF LYON, FRANCE
LANDMARK BUILDINGS
Lyon Cathedral
Construction of Lyon cathedral took 300 years (from 1180 to 1480) but was able to maintain consistent architecture style. The building doesn't belong to highest cathedrals - it's only 32,5 meters high, as well as 80 meters long and 20 meters wide. The apse and choir are built in Romanesque architecture while the nave and facade - Gothic.
Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière
Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière was built by private funds in 19th Century (1872-1896) and has became one of the main landmark symbols of Lyon, overlooking the city from the top of Fourviere hill. Architect Pierre Bossan has incorporated both Romanesque and Byzantine architecture influences - non-Gothic styles that were unusual choices at the time.
Church of Saint-Nizier
The Church of Saint-Nizier (Église Saint-Nizier) is a church in the Lyon, France, in the 2nd arrondissement, between the Place des Terreaux and the Place des Jacobins. Its name refers to Nicetius of Lyon, a bishop of the city during the 6th century. Construction started in the 14th century and completed only in the 19th century, the church contains a variety of architectural styles, ranging from the neo-Gothic spire to the classical Renaissance facade.
Church of Saint-Bonaventure
Eglise Sain-Bonaventure is one of the oldest Lyon churches, built already in 1327 and it escaped demolition as the only building in area where rue Imperiale (rue de le Republioue) was built. Another fact is stunning about it - the construction took just 2 years which is very unusual for medieval times.
Chapelle de l'Hôtel-Dieu
Seemingly small but very elegant from outside and impressive inside - one of rare baroque buildings in Lyon. It's built in 17th Century and since 2012 being restored.
Church of Saint-Just
The Church of Saint Just was built around 1565 to replace the original Basilica of Saint Justus, the site of the coronation of Pope Clement V in 1305. The Neoclassical facade was designed by Ferdinand-Sigismond Delamonce and dates to the early 18th century.
Ancient Theatre of Fourvière
Heritage of Roman Empire buildings in Lyon - Ancient Theatre of Fourviere - was built on the hill of Fourviere which was the centre of the Roman city. The theatre was started to built around 15 BC and finished in 2nd Century, was able to accomodate around 10 000 visitors. Nowadays functions both as tourist site as well as culture events place.
Hôtel de Ville
Hotel de Ville or city hall of Lyon is one of the largest historic buildings in the city. Built in the late 17th century, the building has been classified as a historical monument since 12 July 1886. As part of the Presqu'île district, the building was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List alongside other districts in the centre of Lyon, bearing testimony to Lyon's long history as an important European city.
Theatre Des Celestins
As many theatre buildings, also Theatre des Celestins in Lyon was built in second half of 19th Century (1877, architect Gaspard André). Interestingly, that the building was damaged by fire just 3 years after was built. Nowadays it is one of few theatres with over 200 years' continual usage in France.
Museum of Institut Lumière
The museum of founders of the cinematography - brother Auguste and Louis Lumiere, which was founded in 1892. The museum is located in the house of the Lumière family, in the Monplaisir quarter of Lyon. The film La Sortie de l'usine Lumière à Lyon, one of the earliest motion pictures ever made, was shot in the immediate vicinity of the Institut. The renovation of the building was carried out by the architect Pierre Colboc and the Chief architect of historic monuments Didier Repellin.
Palais De La Bourse of Lyon
Palais de la Bourse is an ornate 19th Century (built in 1860) Neo-Renaissance building in Lyon, currently occupied by Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Lyon.
Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon
The Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon was a hospital of historical significance situated on the right bank of the Rhône river in Lyon. First erected in medieval times, the building originally served as the "Confrérie des frères pontifes" (est. 1184), a pontifical meeting-place and refuge for both traveling and local members of the clergy. However, when the first doctor Maître Martin Conras was hired in 1454, 'Hôtel-Dieu' became a fully functional hospital, one of the most important in France. As Lyon was a city known for its trade and seasonal fairs, many of the early patients were weary travelers of foreign descent.
Maison Blanchon
Maison Blanchon on Quai Fulchiron, Lyon, was built in 1845 by famous Lyon architect (Saint-Georges church, Fourviere basilica) Pierre Bossan. This splendid and unusual eclectic building incorporates medieval and Moorish styles.
Palais de justice historique (Cour D Appel) de Lyon
The Palais de Justice de Lyon is nicknamed the 'Palace of the twenty-four columns'. It is one of the finest neo-classical buildings in France. Its construction began in 1835 and ended in 1845, under the direction of architect Louis-Pierre Baltard. It was built in the same location as the previous courthouses that had been there since the 15th century.
Lyon Opera
The original Lyon National Opera house was built in a neo-classical style in 1830. At the beginning of the 1980s, it was decided that the Opera had to be renewed. Jean Nouvel won in the architectural competition (in 1986). The new Opera of Lyon was inaugurated in May 1993 and is a brave blend of centuries. Outside the opera house, Nouvel only kept the outer walls. He also dug new underground levels and added a semi-cylindrical dome that is used by dancers. On the opera house front wall, 8 muses have been kept in place (Uranie, the 9th one was removed to respect the symmetry of the building).
Auditorium Maurice-Ravel
One of the most famous Brutalist architecture examples, Maurice Ravel Auditorium is a concert hall built in 1975, architect Henri Pottier. Reinforced concrete giant which weighs 40 000 tons is stabilized by 12 pillars sunken 15 metres deep, almost as deep as the water table coming from Rhone river. The Auditorium is second largest in France by volume (30 000 m3) after Paris Philharmony. However, the acoustic itself wasn't well planned, as the building turned out non-appropriate for symphonic music.
Musée des Confluences
The Musée des Confluences is a science centre and anthropology museum which opened on 20 December 2014. 'Confluences' refers, first and foremost, to its exceptional geographical location. Just downstream from the museum, the waters of the Rhône and Saône meet, suggesting the ideas of convergence, mingling and fluidity, as explains the
musem web site. Designed to be like a bridge, the museum allows visitors to cross its hall and interior spaces without having to buy an entrance ticket or see an exhibition.
URBAN SPACES
Rue du Bœuf, Lyon
Charming cobblestoned pedestrian Renaissance street in Lyon's Old Town (Vieux Lyon) district, about 200 metres long. Filled with cosy street cafes and shops. There are only old houses from 16th - 27th Centuries. The street originated already in 3rd Century. The inhabitants of Fourvière, the upper town of Lugdunum, were deprived of water and forced to descend to the Saône to gradually build a whole neighborhood, where is the current Vieux Lyon. The street was once inhabited also by wealthy merchants of Lyon, so very different parts of society has lived there.
Escalier (Stairway) to Fourviere Basilica
Scenic stairway which leads from Fourviere hill to Vieux Lyon district, opening up panoramas of Lyon rooftops skyline in the distance.
Place Des Jacobins
One of most popular and beautiful squares in the city, filled up with people in the evenings. Place Des Jacobins was created already in 1556 - the king Henri II himself gave the order as he wanted to get rid of the monks cemetery and replace it with a market. At the 300th anniversary of the place it got a nice birthday gift - a fountain by Louis Danton was added in 1856. The square belongs to the Lyon's zone classified as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Place Bellecour
Place Bellecour is notable mainly because of it's size - this square is one of the largest open squares (without any patches of greenery or trees) in Europe, and the third biggest square in France, behind the Place des Quinconces in Bordeaux (12.6 ha) and the Place de la Concorde in Paris (8.6 ha). It has the statue of King Louis XIV, as well as statues of Petit Prince and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Mur Des Canuts
One of the largest and most realistic wall paintings, depicting life of La Croix-Rousse neighborhood of Lyon, France, which was once the neighbourhood of silk weavers (Lyon's most important industry in late 19th Century). The huge mural was created by urban artists group CitéCréation in 1987, but it has been updated in 1997 and 2013.
NATURE AND PARKS
Parc de la Tête d'or
Large urban park, founded in 1857, Lyon's analogue to Tiergarten, Hyde Park, Retiro park. Work on the park began in 1856, under the leadership of Swiss landscape designers Eugene and Denis Bulher and lasted five years. The park was finally opened in 1857, although at the time all the work was not yet completed. A dam was built to make non-flooded vast lands transformed into a park.
Botanical garden of Lyon
Jardin botanique de Lyon was established in 1857 as a successor to earlier botanical gardens dating to 1796; it is now described as France's largest municipal botanical garden. It contains about 15,000 plants, including 3,500 plants of temperate regions, 760 species of shrubs, a hundred species of wild roses, 750 varieties of historical roses, 200 varieties of peonies recognised by the Conservatoire Français des Collections Végétales Spécialisées (CCVS), 1,800 species of alpine plants, 50 varieties of water lilies, as well as 6,000 species in its greenhouses. The garden's greenhouses enclose a total of 6,500 square metres (70,000 sq ft) in area, and include a central pavilion for tropical plants including camellias over a hundred years old; a greenhouse-aquarium with Amazonian water lilies; a Dutch greenhouse containing carnivorous plants; small greenhouses with orchids; and small cold greenhouses with azaleas, cacti and so forth.
Zoological garden of Lyon
Lyon Zoo (fr. Zoo de Lyon, also known as Jardin zoologique de Lyon) is an integral part of park Tête d'Or and the admission of zoo is free. The zoo was founded 1858 by Claude-Marius Vaïsse, a French lawyer who joined the administration of the July Monarchy. The zoo presents 300 animals from 66 Species.
VIEWPOINTS
Views from Jardin du Belvedere
The area in and around Jardin Du Belvedere offers wonderful views directly over Vieux Lyon rooftops to the island and centre. By climbing up the street Chemin Neuf, an observer gradually gets higher perspectives. Cosy courtyards and gerdens in forefront, charming urban compositions of buildings behind, with Lyon's skyline in background - these are one of the best sights in Lyon.
Views from around Notre Dame Fourviere basilica
Notre Dame Fourviere basilica area offers one of the highest view points in Lyon. These are the views from the ground area of basilica (there is also an option to climb it's tower) and they offer panorama of whole main part of the city up to the mountainous horizon background.
Views from Jardin Des Curiousites
A small park in southern part of Lyon's central area offers another, a bit different perspective and angle to city's panoramas. This place is rather lively with people enjoying views and relaxing here in good weather.
Views from Jardin Des Chartreux
Nice view terrace of Chartreux district offers panorama over rooftops, Sona river, to Fourviere hill and centre skyline.
INTERACTIVE MAP
LYON PHOTO GALLERY
Photo: Steve Collis, 
Photo: Jean Christophe Benoist, 
Photo: Joan, 
Photo: Joan, 
Photo: Matt Neale, 
Photo: Raphaël Quinet, 
Photo: Manuel Farnlacher, 
Photo: Kirk K, 
