Lyon is a rewarding destination in north France. It boasts a source of romance reflecting from the old architect, modern city vibes, picturesque rivers blending with tree covered hills. The city has colorful cultural characters which charms all visitors whether you come to soak up French cuisine or simply enjoy a relaxing river cruises.
Here are top sites you should not miss in Lyon
Cathédrale St-Jean
Located at Place Saint-Jean in Lyon, this Roman Catholic Church is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, and is the seat of the Archbishop of Lyon. This Gothic architecture is a must visit for those interested in either the city’s history or ecclesiastical design. Some of the most notable sights here are the Astronomical Clock, dating from the 14th century, the impressive 19th century organ and the 12th century crosses that stand either side of the altar as a symbol of the union of the church.
Photo : Coralie Mercier
Parc de la Tête d’Or
Spread across 117 hectares, this urban park in Lyon is to take a break from the bustling city life and find some solace in the natural green surroundings. Consisting of four rose gardens, huge greenhouse, botanical garden, a zoo and a velodrome, this place is worth a visit. Featuring a vast lake, the serenity of this park will definitely blow your mind.
Presqu’île District
Nestled between the Rhône and the Saône rivers, this beautiful district is a perfect example of Lyon’s historical architecture through the ages. With prevalence of cafés, restaurants, luxury shops, department stores, government buildings, banks and cultural institutions; there’s a great amalgamation of 12th century designs and modern architecture.
La Maison des Canuts
Located on the Croix-Rousse, this museum of the technical, social and creative radiation of Lyon silk for five centuries is a must visit. Guided tours with demonstration of weaving on a loom Jacquard is available here. Exhibitions reveal how thread is produced and how over the years the industry has changed and the lives of the workers within it.
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon
Housed in a former abbey from the 1600s, this fine art museum has 70 rooms here, with paintings from the 1300s to the 1900s, along with sculpture and displays of both Egyptian and Oriental art. The Antiquities department has some 600 Ancient Egyptian artefacts, including reliefs, busts, statuettes and sarcophagi.
Ancient Theatre of Fourvière
This Roman theatre in Lyon was built on the hills of Fourvière, and today it acts as a major tourist site. It is still used as a cultural venue for the Nuits de Fourvière festival every year in the month of June-July. Built in 15 BC, with a diameter of 108 metre, there were seats for 10,000 spectators.
Institut Lumière
Founded in 1982 by descendants of Louis Lumière, this museum honours the contribution to filmmaking by Auguste and Louis Lumière – inventors of the cinematography and fathers of the cinema. A visit to this elegant place will take you back in times to the journey of movie making.
Musée Miniature et Cinéma
Located at 60 rue Saint-Jean in Lyon, housed in the historic building of the old House of lawyers, this museum was founded by Dan Ohlmann. The museum houses two permanent collections – one devoted to the art of miniature and another to special effects techniques used in film shoots.
Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
Known to be foodie’s paradise, this market covered by a hall with about sixty merchants is often referred as “the belly of Lyon”. Named after Paul Bocuse, the most famous chef in Lyon, this place constitute a high place of Lyonnaise gastronomy.
Musée Gadagne
Located in the centre of the Vieux Lyon, in the Saint-Jean quarter, this museum is named after the sublime 16th century renaissance palace that houses it. In 30 rooms across four floors there are around 80,000 items displayed, dating between medieval times and the mid 19th century.
Fourvière Basilica
With the influence of both Romanesque and Byzantine architecture, this basilica was built with private funds between 1872 and 1884 in a dominant position overlooking the city from the hills. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, this basilica offers guided tours and contains a Museum of Sacred Art, which receives around 2 million visitors annually.
