lyon mini tour eiffel

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The Metallic Tower of Fourvière

Lyon’s mini eiffel tower rising higher than the basilica of fourvière.

The Metallic tower of Fourvière sits at the top of the Montée Nicolas de Lange in the 5th arrondissement of Lyon.

The tower is visible from almost everywhere in the center of the city, especially Place Bellecour. © Jenna Careri

Rising above the spires of the Basilica of Fourvière , the tower is nearly as iconic as the church , lit up in lights every evening. Visible from most points in the city , the structure brings to mind one particularly iconic monument rising above the city of Paris.

Lyon’s “ little Eiffel Tower ” is a curiosity with seemingly no explanation, privately owned and closed to the public . It currently serves as a radio and television antenna yet was once one of the most popular attractions in Lyon. Where did it come from, why was it built there, and why is it now closed?

Eiffel Tower Fever from Paris to Lyon

Paris’s Eiffel Tower was inaugurated in 1889, during the “ Exposition Universelle ,” or world fair. Swept up in the glamour of these late 19th century international expositions , some people in Lyon saw an opening to build their own world-class attraction, giving a panoramic view of the city .

The perfect spot was found on a section of the affluent Gay family’s property , which was sold to a private company called the Société Anonyme de la Tour de Fourvière to build Lyon’s very own tower.

View from Tour métallique de Lyon at the beginning of the 20th century. © Archives Municipales de Lyon

Not to be outdone by the religious fervor surrounding the historic basilica , the tower was designed to be the church’s republican, nonreligious counterpart . More importantly, it’s spire would reach higher than those of the basilica, making it the highest point in the city .

Work began in 1893 and the tower was inaugurated during the “ Exposition internationale et coloniale ” at the Parc de la Tête d’Or . The tower itself is 85 meters high, setting its tip at 372 meters above sea level .

The first name suggested for the new icon was Tour Avellan , after the Russian Admiral Avellan because of the favorable Russian-French relations at the time. However, it was officially named the Tour Paufique , in honor of the project’s head architect.

A Tourist Attraction to Rival All Others

The tower was well and truly based off of its big brother in Paris, with its very own restaurant and observation deck .

Like the basilica, the tower is even visible from outlying districts, like the 9th behind Fourvière hill. © Jenna Careri

Visitors were welcomed into a pavilion on the ground floor , before being ushered into elevators that whisked them into the air. The first stop deposited them at shops and a restaurant run by the Gay family , with panoramic views for their dining pleasure.

But the biggest panorama came on the top floor, 357 meters above sea level, on the observation platform . From their perch in the sky, visitors could see the city from all directions , including the world fair pavilions in the park.

From World Attraction to Radio Tower

The restaurant attracted customers until 1940 , when it closed at the start of WWII . Then in 1943, Madame Gay bought the property and the tower back from the Société Anonyme.

During the war, the tower was threatened with destruction and nearly torn down by the Germans, who wanted to use its 2100 tons of metal as a resource . They drew up a plan to dismantle it, but it never went into effect.

The tower officially closed to the public in 1953 and was bought by RTF , the national society of French radio and television, for 15 million francs . Converted into a radio and television antenna , it has remained closed to the public ever since and is impossible to visit .

Today it lights up the sky next to Fourvière every evening, serves as a backdrop for the July 14 fireworks , and provides a funny anecdote for tourists and residents alike as Lyon’s “ mini Eiffel Tower .”

Other Historical Monuments in Lyon

Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, treasure of Lyon

Fourvière basilica is a speactacular landmark to visit in Lyon, and the view from the esplanade is mind-blowing.

Lyon Saint Jean Cathedral

In Lyon’s 5th district, is St Jean Cathedral in the beating heart of Vieux Lyon, home to the largest Renaissance area in Europe after Venice.

Place Bellecour

Place Bellecour is the largest pedestrian square in Europe. A landmark to visit in Lyon.

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Tout savoir sur la tour Eiffel (ou tour métallique) de Lyon

Tous les Lyonnais la connaissent et la voient au quotidien : la tour métallique de Lyon Fourvière ! Également connue comme la tour Eiffel ou le Picon, c'est un monument incontournable de la ville, malgré son esthétique qui ne fait pas l'unanimité. Si elle était auparavant un lieu de visite, elle est devenue dans les années 50 un relais de radio et télévision fermé au public. Je vous fais découvrir ici quelques faits intéressants sur la tour métallique lyonnaise.

La tour Eiffel ou tour métallique de Lyon Fourvière

Inspirée de la dame de fer.

Située dans le 5e arrondissement, sur la fameuse colline de Fourvière , la tour métallique se trouve aussi non loin de la basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière . Culminant sur 372 m en dessus du Vieux Lyon et du cours de la Saône, c'est le point le plus élevé de la ville.

Un accueil enthousiaste du public

La construction de la tour métallique de Lyon remonte entre 1892 et 1894 et elle est ouverte au public le 3 mai 1894 . Elle est érigée à l'initiative de la Société Anonyme de la Tour de Fourvière, qui décide de l'implanter en face de la Basilique. Elle portait alors le nom de « Tour Paufique », du nom du président du Conseil d'Administration.

Au départ, elle comptait un restaurant avec vue sur Lyon et tenu par la famille Gay. Elle disposait également d'un ascenseur hydraulique à piston pouvant emmener 22 personnes sur un belvédère avec observatoire, se trouvant 80 m plus haut. Malgré son apparence qui fait débat dès sa construction, elle suscite l'enthousiasme du public, qui vient nombreux pour la visiter.

Un arrêté de destruction pris à l'encontre de la tour de Lyon Fourvière

Elle passe de propriétaire en propriétaire et risque une destruction après un arrêté de réquisition pris par l'Office des fontes, fers et aciers , début juin 1943. L'armée allemande souhaitait en effet l'utiliser pour permettre à l'office de récupérer une grande quantité de métal. Elle est finalement sauvée in extremis après un combat juridique abrogeant l'arrêté le 6 juillet suivant.

Un site désormais fermé au public

Elle est finalement rachetée par la Radiodiffusion-télévision française (RTF) le 1er novembre 1953 pour la diffusion de la seule chaîne de télévision, comprenant la station lyonnaise.

En 1963, elle ne sera plus accessible au public car elle devient une antenne relais de la RTF supportant de nombreux émetteurs de télévision, de téléphonie ainsi que par d'autres services publics. À partir de ce moment, le pavillon se trouvant à la base de la tour qui recevait du public est remplacé par du béton, la terrasse supérieure est supprimée et l'ancien ascenseur laisse la place à un modèle électrique de 4 places.

Cartes postales anciennes de la tour métallique de Fourvière

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Fourviere Hill: Basilica, Ruins, And The Best View Of Lyon

Published 24 October 2023 by  Leyla Alyanak  — Parisian by birth, Lyonnaise by adoption, historian by passion

I try to visit Fourvière Hill each time I go to Lyon: for the Basilica, of course, but also for the spectacular view and the amazing Roman ruins.

Staring up the 563 steps of Nicolas de Lange hill, you might decide to give up on getting to Fourviere Basilica before you even start.

I don’t blame you – I almost did!

But I persevered, reaching the top huffing and puffing. Long ago, when Lyon was fortified and before the stairs were built, sentries would walk back and forth along this path, searching for enemies. Today, joggers use it to train.

At the top is a surprise: not only a Basilica, but something that looks eerily like the Eiffel Tower. In fact, it is: the metallic Tower of Fourviere is in fact a replica of the Eiffel Tower’s top third. And just beyond is another surprise: a plunge into the past with the remnants of Lyon’s Gallo-Roman past.

Let’s take a stroll around Fourvière Hill, with the Saône River below, the Rhône River in the distance, and the city of Lyon unfurling in-between.

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Getting to Fourvière

Basilica notre-dame de fourvière.

•   What does Fourviere mean?

The Basilica from the outside

The basilica’s interior, the crypt: a hidden sanctuary, the rosary garden, lugdunum, the first lyon on fourviere hill.

Video: Fourvière Hill

Where to eat on Fourviere Hill

Where to stay in lyon.

There are many reasons to visit Fourviere. The basilica and metallic tower and Roman ruins, of course, but also the fact that the hill is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which makes it a cultural site of note.

If nothing else, curiosity should drive you up here. When you’re in Lyon down below, just look up and you’ll see the basilica. Aren’t you just a little bit curious to see what’s up here?

These days, you don’t have to walk up if you don’t want to.

You can of course climb the steps at Nicolas de Lange behind the Gare Saint-Paul, as I did, or you can turn left at the bottom of the stairs and walk up the street. 

You could also take the Montée Saint-Barthélémy, the rue du Chemin Neuf and walk through the gardens of the Rosaire until you reach the basilica.

Or you could take the easy way out, as I do these days, and ride the funicular in just a few minutes. It starts from the other end of the Vieux Lyon old town, near the Saint-Jean Cathedral. This, in my humble opinion, is by far the best option. It’s quicker, you’ll have more energy at the top, and you can always walk back down if exercise is what you want.

Locally the funicular is known as the Ficelle, or string, and it has been ferrying passengers up the hill for more than a century. In just a few minutes from Lyon Old Town, you’ll be whisked up to the top of the hill. Just make sure you take the funicular on the RIGHT if you’re headed to the basilica and the one on the left if you’re starting with the Roman ruins.

Lyon has another hill, by the way, Croix-Rousse , which is affectionately called the “hill that works” for the silk trade which once populated it. Fourviere Hill, on the other hand, is referred to as the “hill that prays”.

There has always been a church of some kind on top of Fourviere Hill.

The first one was built back in the 12th century, but was destroyed during the wars of religion that pitted Catholics against Protestants. It was rebuilt, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and worship there helped ward off the many epidemics sweeping Europe during the Middle Ages.

In 1643, as plague was spreading from Provence, city authorities climbed to Fourvière on 8 September to ask for Mary’s protection. When the plague passed Lyon by, the city’s aldermen pledged to repeat their pilgrimage every year.

Plans to inaugurate a new statue of Mary on the hill on 8 September 1852 were wrecked by weather, and postponed to 8 December. Again, the weather wouldn’t cooperate but when authorities tried to postpone it a second time, the people of Lyon stepped in and lit small candles in their windows in honor of Mary. And so was born what would someday become the  Lyon Light Festival . Still today, a procession from the Old Town to Fourvière takes place every 8 December.

➽   HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE FOURVIÈRE? Click to listen.

Meantime, as the tradition celebrating the Virgin grew, space in the chapel atop Fourviere shrank. In 1871, the Prussians were winning the Franco-Prussian War  and would eventually prompt the abdication of Emperor Napoleon III. Lyon trembled and again, prayed to Mary, hoping to spare the city from the advancing troops. The prayer was heard and Lyon was spared.

To thank her, Lyon’s archbishop decided to build a basilica.

Things moved quickly. A peace treaty with the Prussians was signed in 1871, and tby 1872, the cornerstone of the the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière had been laid.

WHAT DOES FOURVIERE MEAN?

No one knows for sure, but it is believed to come from “Forum Vetus”, which means Old Forum in latin. Since the Romans chose Fourvière Hill when they founded Lyon and the city had a central forum, like all Roman cities, this is a plausible answer.

Don’t confuse the hill with the tunnel of the same name. The Tunnel de Fourvière was built in 1971 to reduce traffic in central Lyon and to encourage travelers from Paris to Provence to stop in Lyon. It’s narrow and traffic is often snarled, so visitors opt for alternative routes that bypass the city. Avoid it if you can…

Unlike most church buildings in France, the basilica is relatively recent. Rather than Gothic or Renaissance, its “modern” approach is more a mix of Byzantine and Romanesque.

However you feel about this mix of styles, your first impression will be strong as you exit the funicular station: two giant towers (there are four in total, representing the four cardinal points) rising towards the sky, alabaster brightly contrasting with the sky.

Before going inside, you might want to circle the basilica and step out onto the terrace for one of the most stunning views of Lyon you’ll have on your trip — a tapestry of districts, each with its own distinct character, stitched together by the winding rivers Saône and Rhône.

For an even better view, take one of the rare tours organized by the basilica that climb to the rooftop and from where you’ll snap photographs unlike any others. You can find more information here  (the tours are in French but the view is universal).

Heading inside, a medley of mosaic and stained glass reflects the sunshine that manages to filter through. 

Predictably, there are plenty of homages to Mary, including a statue crowned in gold. Or at least it was gold until the crown was stolen in 2017 and replaced with a replica. Interestingly, this replica dates back to 1940. It was designed to replace the original crown, which was hidden as the Nazis approached.

Head down the (amazing) stairs inside the basilica to the lesser-known but equally captivating crypt (known as the Lower Church). This is a church in itself, which means the basilica is actually made up of two churches. The Lower Church is dedicated to Saint Joseph, but you wouldn’t know it given the number of Marys it contains, many of them donated by other countries.

I mentioned the Eiffel Tower lookalike earlier: it’s not quite a lookalike, but a replica of the top of the tower. Initially built to house a restaurant, these days it is a communications tower. You can’t visit it, but it makes for an intriguing photo. Turn right when you leave the basilica through the front door and keep looking up – it will guide you.

When you’re finished, retrace your steps and head downhill from the basilica entrance’s left.

The  Roman ruins of Lugdunum  are among  France’s premier Gallo-Roman sites , and one of the main reasons people climb up Fourvière.

Stone Age remnants have been found here, but what you really want to see are Lyon’s beginnings as a crossroads, when Julius Caesar was busy conquering Gaul. Barely 30 years after its founding in 43 BCE, Lugdunum became the political, religious and economic capital of Roman Gaul.

Things got messy when Christians arrived in Rome. The Christian community grew but they refused to pledge allegiance to Rome and its emperor. Many would be arrested and executed, including Saint Blandine, Lyon’s patron saint. But Lyon’s fortunes would wane, and it would lose its status as the capital of Gaul.

Plenty is left from those days, like a Roman amphitheater that once seated upward of 10,000 spectators. Come summer, it pulsates with the energy of Les Nuits de Fourvière, an annual arts and music festival. To attend a performance here is to witness a confluence of eras, tapping to the rhythm of rock music while sitting on seats which once welcomed Romans clad in robes.

Right next to the amphitheater is the Odeon, also a theater but far smaller, for 3000 or so people.

To fully plunge yourself into Lugdunum’s history, you’ll have to visit Lugdunum Museum, which curates two millennia of artefacts. Built into the hill, the museum is architecturally unique and its collection a fascinating stroll through life in Gallo-Roman times. You’ll see some particularly impressive mosaics.

Video: Lyon Fourvière Hill

It’s hard to find an area of Lyon without good restaurants, and Fourviere is no exception. Here are some I’ve chosen for you which I think you’ll enjoy.

Bulle  – 9 Place de Fourvière

It’s what I like to call affordable gastronomy. Bulle belongs to Michelin-starred and Meilleur Ouvrier de France (the organization that anoints France’s top culinary artists) Guy Lassausaie. If you want the same view as the one you get from behind the basilica, this is it. In fact, it’s right on the basilica grounds, on the side.

Les Telephones – 23 Rue Roger Radisson

This is the restaurant of the Hôtel de Fourvière, and both are located in a former convent, so you’ll love the surroundings.

Le Coquemar  (many smaller French restaurants use Facebook rather than build their own websites) – 25, montée Cardinal Decourtray

Around the corner and down the hill from the basilica, you can sit on the terrace (or indoors) and take a lunch break between the basilica and the Roman ruins. It’s only two blocks away, and you can actually see the basilica from the windows.

La Salle a Manger – Esplanade de Fourvière

I haven’t tried this one but I hear it’s great value for money. It’s a student training center for young people who need to reintegrate society and find work, so service may be a bit slow and uneven but prices look fabulous. It’s only open for lunch, and you can reserve here. 

Têtedoie –  4 rue du Professeur Pierre Marion

This is actually three restaurants in one, depending on the season: a gastronomic restaurant, a bistro, and a rooftop restaurant. I first met Christian Tetedoie at the Lyon Street Food Festival, where I stood in line to taste his pan-fried foie gras, with which he rose to the top of my list of Lyon chefs.

And finally, this is Lyon. There is food on every corner, and you’re only minutes away from Old Lyon and its many eateries.

There are a few hotels on or around Fourviere Hill, but the vast concentration is in Lyon below. Have a look at the map to spot your preferred area. The Presqu’île is where you’ll find the most accommodation, since it is the commercial heart of Lyon. Some of you may like to stay in the Old Town, but bear in mind it is crowded and noisy, and cars can only go so far. 

If you’re arriving by train, here are some hotels near Lyon train station . If you’re flying in, you may also end up at the train station since the direct Rhônexpress tram from the airport ends at the Part-Dieu station, Lyon’s largest train station.

The public transportation system is so efficient you can pretty much stay anywhere – nothing will be beyond reach. Here’s more about Lyon’s public transport .

Ready for your Lyon trip?

Here are some suggestions to make your visit even more enjoyable!

TOP LYON CITY TOURS  ➽   Vieux Lyon 4-hour Food Tasting Tour  - for inveterate foodies and gastronomes ➽   Discover Lyon Walking Tour - to explore the essence of the city

LYON DAY TRIPS ➽   Golden Stones Beaujolais - heart of the Golden Stone villages for wine lovers ➽   Northern Côtes du Rhône - meeting the winemakers ➽ Beaujolais and Pérouges - wine tasting and a medieval village visit

WHERE TO STAY IN LYON ➽   Villa Florentine  - stunning 5-star luxury overlooking the entire city ➽ Mi-Hotel Tour Rose - perfect apartments in historic Vieux Lyon ➽ Fourvière Hotel - elegant simplicity in a former cloister ➽ Hotel du Théatre - budget option in the heart of the classical district

Renting a car in Lyon? Compare prices here . Traveling here by train? Book your ticket here . To see the city, don't forget to book your Lyon City Card .

Before you go…

Exploring Fourvière Hill is just one of the many exciting  things to do in Lyon − on your way down from the hill, stop and explore a few of Lyon's traboules , or secret passages. Lyon is nothing if not full of surprises.

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Bonjour! I’m Leyla! I was born in Paris and now live in the bucolic mountain foothills of Eastern France between Lyon and Annecy. 

I'm rediscovering my own back yard after years of living abroad in Canada, Spain and Switzerland as a journalist and a diplomat － and I'm loving every minute.

Passionate about history and culture, I’ve created Offbeat France to seek out my country’s mysteries and legends, less-traveled destinations, along with plenty of food stops and many castles － I am French, after all!

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The Hill of Fourvière : Explore Emblematic Must-See Sites of Lyon

Last Updated:  15 March 2024

You thought there was hardly anything worth discovering on the hill of Fourvière? Well, Lyon’s emblematic hill is an experience you will not forget. Discovering this hill is like travelling through time, returning to the Roman era.

Must-Sees in the Emblematic Hill of Fourvière

Fourvière Hill was the city’s centre when the Romans founded Lugdunum (the city we know today as Lyon) in 43 BC. It is thus an exciting place to discover and understand Lyon’s history. Furthermore, several churches were built on the hill, some quite unique. The most emblematic one is the Basilique de Fourvière (Fourvière Basilica), which dominates the city of Lyon . Most of Fourvière Hill is part of the historical site of Lyon, which was ranked as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998.

The Montées (Slopes) of Fourvière

If you want to walk to Fourvière Hill from Lyon Presqu’île, you must first reach Lyon Old Town (le Vieux-Lyon), on the right bank of the Saône River. You must be ready to face one of Fourvière Hill’s famous “Montées” (slopes) from here.

Several rises link different parts of the “Vieux-Lyon” to Fourvière Hill; some of them are stairs. The longest one is the Montée des Carmes-Déchaussées, combined with the Montée Nicolas de Lange. You must use them if you want to join Fourvière Basilica from the Saint-Paul area in the northern part of the old town.

But you had better be ready to climb their 798 steps! You can also go through the Montée des Chazeaux, which links the central part of Fourvière Hill to the Saint-Jean district in Lyon Old Town. Even if quite short (228 steps!), it remains a challenging climb.

However, the view from the top is worth the effort. You can have an overview of the Vieux-Lyon area, especially of Lyon Cathedral, up to the Saône banks .

Nowadays, the slopes are secure and easily accessible . However, that was not always the case, especially when Lyon’s municipality abandoned Lyon Old Town in the first half of the 20 th century. On November 13, 1930, some buildings collapsed, and 40 people died because of a mudslide on the Montée du Chemin-Neuf. Thanks to the restoration of the Vieux-Lyon area, everything is now secure, and you can enjoy lookouts over the whole city of Lyon from the slopes.

If you do not like climbing, you can access Fourvière Hill more quickly. You can use the funicular railway, which scales Fourvière slopes to get to the top. You can take the funicular after reaching the “Vieux-Lyon” underground station on Lyon’s metro D line.

The funicular goes to two locations on Fourvière Hill.

• The “Fourvière” line has taken people to the main part of the hill, close to the basilica, since 1900.
• The “Saint-Just” line has linked the Old Town to the Southern part of the hill since 1878, with a first stop close to the ancient Roman theatres.

Site Archéologique de Fourvière

(Fourvière Archaeological Park)

Fourvière Hill was the first part of Lyon (back then called Lugdunum ) to be settled and developed . Many remains of the town from the Roman era can be seen and visited there.

The theatres of Fourvière

The most famous sites are the ancient theatre and the Odeon of Lyon . Both of these buildings form a pair that is almost unique in ancient Gaul. The same configuration can only be seen in the French city of Vienne, located 30 kilometres to the South of Lyon.

The theatre and the Odeon are part of Fourvière’s archaeological park. You can enter the park from the North on Rue Cléberg or the South on Rue de l’Antiquaille. The ancient theatres are part of a Roman district you can visit. The first official excavations took place in 1933 .

They aimed to find the ancient amphitheatre where Christian martyrs were killed in 177. Since then, the excavations have revealed much information to historians, who have found streets, shops and several buildings from the Roman era. For example, they discovered that the amphitheatre did not stand on Fourvière Hill but on another hill in Lyon, today named Croix-Rousse.

A Roman Palace

For years, it was widely thought that a temple dedicated to the Roman goddess Cybele stood on Fourvière Hill. 

However, thanks to recent excavations, historians have discovered this was wrong. Archaeologists now think the monumental building that used to stand above the theatre was the palace of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa .

This Roman statesman was important in Lyon’s history. He created the “Via Agrippa”, a Roman road network, of which Lyon was the centre.

Next to it, archaeologists found the remains of an ancient reservoir part of the Lugdunum aqueduct network. In the 2nd century, it was a 26-metre long and 9-metre wide tank used to stock and clean the water brought to Fourvière Hill from the cities to the West of Lugdunum.

The excavations of ancient theatres

Finally, the excavations led to the discovery of ancient theatres . The Fourvière ancient theatre was built in two stages. Construction was initiated around 15 BC when Augustus was the Roman emperor. Initially, the theatre was relatively small, with a diameter of 89 metres. It was made with stones from the quarries of Glanum, a fortified town on the outskirts of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence .

The theatre was extended in the 2nd century AD thanks to Emperor Hadrian. The diameter was increased to 109 metres. Its capacity was doubled, from 5,000 to 10,000 spectators. The background wall of the stage was erected. The orchestra floor was rebuilt. It was 46 metres long and 3.8 metres wide. It was used to fix the curtain, signalling the performance’s beginning or end. At the entrance, thirty columns create a gate. Nowadays, only the foundations of the background wall remain. However, the mechanism of the under-stage area was intact when discovered by the archaeologists. It is now exhibited in the nearby Roman Civilisation Museum.

Next to the theatre, the Odeon was built in the 2 nd century . Even though it is still not clear, archaeologists think it was constructed while the nearby theatre was refurbished and extended. The Odeon is quite similar in shape to the theatre.

However, it is far smaller, with a diameter of 73 metres. So far, only twenty Odeons have been discovered throughout the Roman empire. Unlike the theatre, the Odeon building was only used for musical performances and conferences.

The Odeon was dedicated to the elite of Lugdunum. It might have been covered, according to the archaeologists’ interpretation of the thickness of the Odeon’s bailey.

Like other ancient theatres in Orange or Vienne, Lyon’s theatre and Odeon are the setting for performances .

Since 1946, a festival has taken place in these buildings every summer. The festival is named “Les Nuits de Fourvière” (Fourvière Night Festival). In June and July, around 60 performances brought together more than 130,000 spectators in 2012.

Various types of arts are involved, including theatre, opera and dance. Pop music concerts also occur during the festival, which welcomes many famous French and international singers yearly. During the festival, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Sting, Charles Aznavour, Juliette Gréco and Vanessa Paradis performed in the ancient theatre.

Musée Gallo-Romain de Lyon-Fourvière

(Lyon Fourvière Museum of Gallo-Roman civilization)

The  Lyon Fourvière Museum of Gallo-Roman civilisation  was opened in 1975. It is  located next to the ancient theatres to the North. The museum aims to  preserve and exhibit the remains from the Roman era found by archaeologists in and around Lyon. 

To preserve the archaeological site, the architect Bernard Zehrfuss was asked to create a museum that would fit in with its environment. The architect imagined a buried construction .

The result is surprising: walking around the archaeological site, you almost cannot notice the museum. Only two bay windows called “canons à lumière” (light cannons), allow the museum’s visitors to enjoy the view of the theatres while visiting the exhibition spaces. Those seventeen spaces were devoted to Lyon’s daily life  during the Roman era .

You can see craftsmen working tools among the objects, but there are also more institutional items, such as a transcription of Lugdunum-born Emperor Claude’s speech on equal rights. The speech was carved into bronze and discovered in 1528 by a draper. This speech gave Gaul’s citizens the same rights (and duties) as those in the Roman Empire. Temporary exhibitions also occur in the museum, which has become a landmark in Lyon.

Remains of Lyon’s ancient aqueducts

Aqueducts were already used throughout the Roman Empire. It was not something new to build new ones in Lugdunum. However, it was pretty difficult because the area was hilly. Contrary to some other flat places, the water had to go down and climb up to reach Fourvière Hill’s living areas.

For instance, water in one of the aqueducts (the Gier aqueduct) had to climb 176 metres to reach the top of Fourvière Hill from the Yzeron Valley.

Bringing water from the valley to the hill was challenging for Roman architects . Siphons were created. The water is left from an upright-located reservoir. Then, it went down due to atmospheric pressure, so water could pick up speed and climb up to its final stop in another reservoir.

Four aqueducts to bring water to Lugdunum

According to archaeologists and historians, four aqueducts were built to bring water to Lugdunum.

• The “Aqueduc des Monts d’Or” (Golden Mounts Aqueduct) was built around 20 BC on the orders of Marcus Vipsianius Agrippa. It was 26 kilometres long, including 22 kilometres that were buried. It started from a stream called the Thou and arrived at Southern Fourvière Hill in the Minimes area.
• The “Aqueduc de l’Yzeron” was constructed around 9 BC. It went from today’s western suburb of Yzeron in Lyon to the Point-du-Jour area, southwest of Fourvière Hill. The Yzeron aqueduct was unique because it had various sources. The pipes met in Craponne, about eight kilometres west of Lugdunum.
• The “Aqueduc de la Brévenne” dates from the beginning of the 1st century AD. Its water output might have been up to 324 litres per second, making the Brévenne aqueduct’s most powerful one in Lugdunum.
• Finally, the “Aqueduc du Gier” was built around 130 AD. It is the longest of Lugdunum’s aqueducts, 86 kilometres from Saint-Chamond to Lyon’s south-west. Many remains are left from this aqueduct, especially in Chaponost, in Lyon’s western suburbs.

In the Fourvière area, you can see a few remains of the Aqueduc du Gier , at the end of Rue Roger Radisson. This street used to be the Via Aquitania, which left Lugdunum to reach western Gaul. Those remains, which are just next to houses, were ranked as historical monuments in 1964.

Parc des Hauteurs

From the archaeological park of Lyon Fourvière, you can easily reach the other main area of the hill, around the basilica and the Parc des Hauteurs, a promenade on Fourvière Heights .

The Parc des Hauteurs project is relatively recent: it was created in 1989. Back then, Lyon’s municipality sought to preserve and enrich Fourvière Heights. They believed that Lyon was lucky to have developed around Fourvière Hill, which was (and still is) a historical site that did not suffer damage from intense human activity during the industrialisation era.

To promote this area, it was decided to build a promenade that would allow people to stroll from the eastern part of Fourvière Hill (Loyasse cemetery) to the right bank of the Saône  in Lyon Old Town . While walking along this promenade, people would come across places such as the Basilica, the Metallic Tower, Fourvière slopes and the Old Town.

Jardin du Rosaire

Let’s start with the Jardin du Rosaire , the western part of the Parc des Hauteurs. You can enter the Garden from Lyon Old Town’s Montée Saint-Barthélémy (St. Bartholomew slope).

The Garden comprises lovely pathways that climb up to Fourvière Basilica , surrounded by bushes and trees.

There are lookouts over the city of Lyon and Croix-Rousse Hill and the Chevet of the Basilica. Along the walk, several small gardens are devoted to different flowers or architectures: Garden of the Roses, Chinese Garden, Coloured Garden…

Walking in the Jardin du Rosaire is an enjoyable stroll, especially during summer: the trees around the pathways bring shade and make the walk quite cool when it’s too warm in town! The walk through Jardin du Rosaire will bring you to Fourvière Esplanade, from where you can visit the archaeological park going to the South.

Jardin de la Visitation

Then, you can continue your journey through the Parc des Hauteurs, visiting the Jardin de la Visitation (Visitation Garden).

The garden is named after the Order of the Visitation of the Holy Mary , a Roman Catholic religious order intended for women.

The “Visitandines” acquired a part of the area in the 1850s to build a new convent after having fled from Croix-Rousse Hill because of the Canuts’ riots. The cloister was built following plans by architect Pierre Bossan , whose sister was part of the Order of the Visitation.

This is one of Bossan’s first works in Lyon, eighteen years before he started working on Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica.

The convent was transformed for decades until the beginning of the twentieth century. Then, the nuns faced financial problems, which were also the consequence of the introduction of French secularism in 1905. In 1965, the convent was eventually sold to the Lyon Municipality.

After considering turning the convent into a school of architecture, the building was finally rented to the civil hospices of Lyon  to become their record office.

Originally laid out by the nuns, the park of the cloister is now public. It is a nice place to visit as it is tranquil and peaceful. You can enjoy a beautiful view over the Odeon of Lyon and Southern Presqu’île there.

Passerelle des Quatre-Vents

After strolling through the Visitation Gardens, you can continue your journey through the Parc des Hauteurs on Rue Pauline-Marie Jacot to the Loyasse Cemetery. From there, turn right on Chemin du Viaduc (Viaduct lane), which leads to the Passerelle des Quatre-Vents (Belvedere Footbridge).

The 72-metre-long footbridge was a viaduct part of the tramway line that linked Loyasse Cemetery to Fourvière Esplanade.

Only 800 metres long, it was the shortest tramway line in France before it was destroyed in 1952. The footbridge was built in 1993 where the former viaduct used to stand. It was designed by architect Manuelle Gontrand and engineer Marc Malinowski before landscaping by Michel Desvigne and Christine Dalnoky.

The footbridge has quickly become one of the most famous lookouts in Lyon . From there, you can see Fourvière Metallic Tower and Basilica on the one side and Croix-Rousse Hill on the other. The footbridge ends on an impressive Metallic structure: the Fourvière Metallic Tower.

Tour métallique de Fourvière

(Fourvière Metallic Tower)

When you see the Metallic Tower of Fourvière , you can’t help thinking about another famous steel-made French building… the Eiffel Tower! However, the two buildings do not have anything in common. If Gustave Eiffel had not made the Fourvière Metallic Tower, its shape would be very close to the Paris building’s third and final floor.

However, the tower in Lyon is far smaller since it is only 86 metres high , compared to the Eiffel Tower at 324 metres.

Fourvière Metallic Tower was built a few years after the Eiffel Tower (1887-1889), in 1893 and 1894. It was built for the 1914 World Fair, which took place in Lyon .

Back then, there was a restaurant on the ground floor of the tower, as well as an elevator which could take up to 22 people to the top of the building to enjoy the view over Lyon.

In 1953, the Tower was bought by the RTF (the French national agency which brought radio and television to the public) from the previous owners, a family from Lyon.

The tower, the high point of Lyon, ceased being an observation point and has been u sed as a television transmitter since 1963 . Consequently, the restaurant closed, and the whole tower has been closed to the public since then.

Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière

(Our Lady of Fourvière Basilica)

From the Passerelle des Quatre-Vents and Fourvière Metallic Tower, you can quickly join the Fourvière Basilica esplanade , a few metres away to the south.

The esplanade used to be the ancient Roman forum called Forum Vetus . This name evolved into “Fourvière”. 

In the forecourt of the Basilica stands a statue of Pope John Paul II , erected in 2011, twenty-five years after the Pope visited Lyon.

The statue by Elisabeth Cibot is made of bronze, is 4.5 metres high and weighs more than seven tons. It looks at the city of Lyon with the Pope’s arms open, reproducing John Paul II’s stance while blessing Lyon in 1986.

The gilded statue of the Virgin Mary

On 8 December 1852 (during the feast of the Immaculate Conception), a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary was erected at the top of the 12th-century Fourvière Chapel , which had just received a new bell tower.

The new statue was meant to overlook the whole city to symbolise the Virgin’s protection over Lyon. On that day, a ceremony began to bless the statue and the new bell tower. The people of Lyon quite spontaneously placed candles in their windows to honour the Virgin Mary. This tradition originated from the Lyon Festival of Lights , which occurs every year on 8 December.

The Basilica of Fourvière: an imposing monument

Next to that chapel, the Basilica is a massive 19th-century building.

When you go to Lyon, you simply cannot miss the Basilica, which can be seen from many places in the city, such as the Rhône banks or Place Bellecour. Its position on the top of Fourvière Hill enables the Basilica to overlook the city of Lyon. People from Lyon are used to this silhouette, which many consider protective and benevolent.

A dedication to the Virgin Mary

Fourvière Basilica has been dedicated to the Virgin Mary , who has been the protectress of Lyon for centuries.

Before the Basilica was built, a few dates endeared the people of Lyon to the Holy Mary. The first one was in 1643 when the plague spread and threatened the region of Lyon.

The city council’s aldermen dedicated the city to the Virgin Mary to stop the plague epidemic. They made a solemn promise: every year, they would pilgrimage to the top of Fourvière Hill if the city was freed from the plague. They would offer the Virgin a gold écu coin and a 7-kilo candle there.

The epidemic eventually ended and left the town: the “Vœu des échevins” (the aldermen’s vow) was answered. Since then, the vow has been repeated every year on 8 September (the day of the Virgin Mary’s Nativity feast) during a Mass at Fourvière Basilica by Lyon’s archbishop, in the presence of Lyon’s mayor and city councillors.

The origins of the construction

However, the origin of the Basilica’s construction dates from a few years later, in 1870, when France faced the Franco-Prussian war .

Lyon citizens prayed to the Virgin Mary to protect the city so that the war would not reach Lyon. Lyon’s archbishop , Jacques-Marie-Achille Ginoulhiac, promised to build a new sanctuary dedicated to worshipping the Virgin Mary if the Prussians did not invade the city .

Once again, the prayer was answered, and the Basilica was built. To finance the building, many people of Lyon gave sums of money or even jewels, which led to the foundation stone being laid in 1872.

The architect was Pierre Bossan , who had already designed the “Visitandines” Cloister on Fourvière Hill. Both Romanesque and Byzantine architecture inspired him. After his death, the work was carried on by architect Sainte-Marie Perrin.

Four octagonal towers

The Basilica can be easily recognised from the outside by its four octagonal towers, which rise to 49 metres and symbolise the cardinal virtues.

The north-east tower represents prudence, the north-west tower depicts strength, the south-west tower personifies justice and the south-east one temperance.

That tower is said to be subjected to a curse: from 1889 to 1919, four different bells were installed at her top. The first one was too big and did not fit! The second could not be tied down, and the third was split. Finally, the fourth bell was installed in 1895. It worked until 1919 when its sound suddenly changed! Since then, there has been no bell on the south-east tower of the Basilica. The two eastern towers can be climbed.

The northeast tower has  an observation platform made of lava stone. Being one of Lyon’s highest points, it offers one of the most beautiful views over Lyon .

The northern front

The northern front represents allegories of faith, hope and charity .

On the 35-metre-long facade, the main portico is composed of three arches.

Above it is a gallery representing  twelve figures from Lyon’s 19th century .

The actual doors of the church are made of bronze. From left to right: Jules-Emile Planchon (a botanist), Lucien Brun, Antoine Frapet (two aldermen), Prosper Dugas (a banker), Alphonse de Boissieu (a writer), Laurent-Paul Brac de la Perrière (a lawyer who helped fund the construction of the Basilica), Pierre-Hector Couillé, Louis-Marie Caverot, Jacques-Marie-Achille Ginoulhiac, Louis-Jacques-Maurice de Bonald (five archbishops of Lyon) and Pierre Bossan, the architect of the Basilica who died a few years before the actual inauguration of the church.

Above the gallery, the Virgin Mary is represented by Archangels Gabriel (on her left) and Michel (on her right). The triangle at the top symbolises the aldermen’s vow to free the city from the plague in 1643. At the bottom of the façade, the Lion of Judah, which Charles Dufraine sculpted, guards the entrance of the Basilica’s crypt.

The crypt is the darkest part of the Basilica and is quite understated . It is dedicated to St Joseph , a Pierre Bossan wish.

It is less than ten metres high, which gives an impression of simplicity. The architect wanted visitors to enter the church first by going to the crypt: they would be in a pretty simple place before reaching the impressiveness of the upper church .

The high altar’s ornamental tiling represents the Seven Deadly Vices: pride is depicted as a peacock, sloth as a tortoise, lust as a ram, envy as a snake, evil as a seven-headed dragon, wrath as a cat, and greed as ants dragging a fly. The high altar statue depicts St Joseph with Child. The sculpture was made by Joseph-Hugues Fabisch, who represented St Joseph’s face using Pierre Bossan’s.

Inside the church

The interior of the upper church is stunning : the rich decoration jumps out.

The primary colour is blue, which is the colour of the Virgin Mary, and gold is also dominant in the church’s interior , especially in the mosaics by Charles Lameire and Georges Décote. The glass windows are also impressive, being exceptionally luminous.

The church is divided into three naves, above which three cupolas depict the Virgin Mary and the Holy Trinity.

Meanwhile, Mary’s earthly life is represented in the chapels, the Virgin in France and the World is depicted on the mosaics and her Queenship on the glass windows.

Six brass ceiling lights were installed during the last restoration of the Basilica, which was completed in 2013. Each weighs more than 500 kilos, allowing visitors to notice some of the details of the mosaics. In the apse stands a stunning statue of the Virgin by Paul-Emile Millefaut, made of Carrara marble.

St. Thomas Chapel

The Chapelle Saint-Thomas (St. Thomas Chapel) is located next to the Basilica to the north.

It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury and is Fourvière Hill’s original chapel, first built in the 12th century.

It was destroyed by the Huguenots in 1552, during the Wars of Religion, before being rebuilt at the end of the 17th century. Pilgrims visit the chapel to see its 16th-century Black Virgin. Its bell tower was enlarged in 1852 to welcome the famous gilded statue of the Virgin Mary by Joseph-Hugues Fabisch.

Quartiers Minimes et Saint-Just

(Minims and St. Just areas)

The Southern part of Fourvière Hill, with Minimes and St Just areas , is quite interesting. You can go back to the eastern entrance of the Archaeological Park, on Rue de l’Antiquaille, which marks the entrance of the Minimes area.

The district’s name refers to the Minims, a Catholic religious order founded in the 15th century whose members wanted to live effortless lives. I f you go down Rue de l’Antiquaille, you will have Place des Minimes (Minims Square) on your left and the Collège Jean Moulin (Jean Moulin secondary school) on your right, built on ancient Roman remains.  

The Roman public baths

Next to it, archaeologists discovered remains of the ancient Lugdunum Roman thermae (public baths), which were accessible to the public by going under the arches of the block of flats next to the school (6, rue des Farges).

As the school was built on parts of the public baths, only the southern remains could be found by archaeologists.

Still, we know quite a lot about this Roman construction from 50 AD, which was extended a hundred years later . The area was made of three patios. The upper ones were bordered with stores and large houses which belonged to the wealthiest men in Lugdunum. The lower patio was only bordered by stores. It became the Palaestra (an esplanade where events such as boxing and wrestling occurred) of Lyon Fourvière after the construction of the Thermae.

The public baths were 75 metres long and 55 metres wide and composed of eight underground rooms. They were initially accessible to anybody, without distinction of any kind, such as legal status, social class, or sex, but Emperor Hadrian forbade mixed baths at around 130.

Parts of the remains have been restored and are now accessible to the public , namely the southern sections of the public baths and a part of the Palaestra. If you want to know what the place looked like two thousand years ago, you should visit the Gallo-Roman Museum of Fourvière: a reconstructed model of the area has been created thanks to the information from the archaeologists’ excavations. 

Lycée Saint-Just

In front of the block of flats where the remains of the public baths are “hidden”, you can see a massive building from the 19th century, which overlooks the city of Lyon.

Now a public high school called Lycée Saint-Just , it was built between 1855 and 1861 and was originally a seminary. The building has a one-hundred-metre-long main section with two wings on its sides.

Being quite monumental, the construction cost a lot of money, and French emperor Napoleon III once said, “ I said to build a seminary, not to build a palace!” .

In 1912, seven years after the establishment of French secularism, the building became an office of the French Consignment and Loans Fund (“Caisse des Dépôts et des Consignations”). It was a hospital during World War I. At the end of the 1920s, it was redeveloped into a boarding school, which became independent after World War II with its current name: “Lycée Saint-Just”.

Nowadays, it is one of the most renowned high schools in Lyon  since the students are very successful at national examinations such as “le baccalauréat”.

Grotte Berelle

The place is also surprising because it was built on an ancient Gallo-Roman grotto, which used to be a reservoir during the Roman era of Lugdunum and is called “Grotte Berelle” .

It could hoard up to 440,000 litres of water from the Yzeron Aqueduct but has not been used since the end of the Roman era. It even “disappeared” when the Lycée Saint-Just was built on it before being rediscovered in the 1920s thanks to excavations.

Now closed to the public , archaeologists and historians can still visit the grotto, helping them learn much about how the Romans could store the water from the aqueducts. 

Hopital de l’Antiquaille

To the north of Place des Minimes, massive buildings used to be a convent and became a hospital in the early 19th century called “Hôpital de l’Antiquaille” . Being just next to the Roman theatres (just on the other side of the street, next to the Rue de l’Antiquaille Archaeological Park’s entrance), wealthy Roman property owners used to live there.

More than a thousand years after the end of the Roman era, a bourgeois from Lyon constructed a beautiful manor he called “l’Antiquaille”, referring to the numerous remains from Antiquity that were found there.

In the 17th century, the building was bought by the “Visitandines” from the Catholic religious Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary and was extended. A cloister, a chapel and new wings were constructed , but the nuns had to leave in 1792 during the French Revolution. 

The hospital replaced the convent , and its original mission was to help the homeless people of Lyon.

However, it became more universal by the end of the 19th century. It started being an essential place for medical research in France, making the Antiquaille Hospital one of the most important in Lyon.

Being relatively far away from the other hospitals in town (most of them are located on the left bank of the Rhône, in eastern Lyon), it was closed in 2003 after having been bought by a private construction company.

The building has been refurbished for almost ten years and  turned into apartments and hotel rooms . The refurbishment project also includes opening a museum that tells the history of Christianity in Lyon, which opened during the summer of 2013.

A restaurant with a view!

Next to the former Antiquaille Hospital, on Rue Pierre Marion and Montée du Chemin Neuf, is a restaurant whose Chef is Christian Tetedoie . He has been ranked as “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” since 1998, a distinction bestowed upon the best craftsmen in France.

The restaurant has been ranked with one star in the “Guide Michelin” since 2000, making it one of the best places to eat in Lyon.

It is unique, thanks to the amazing view from the dining room over the city of Lyon . You can even see the Alps and Mont-Blanc on a fine clear day. In fact, the Minimes area is one of the best places on Fourvière Hill to enjoy views of the whole town. On Rue Pierre Marion, there are several spots where you can enjoy amazing views over the city.

Eglise Saint-Just

(St. Just church)

At the south of the main part of Fourvière Hill (around the Basilica and the Archaeological Park), there are still interesting places to see and visit, especially two churches called Saint-Just and Saint-Irénée (St. Irenaeus) . Those churches reflect the powerful influence of Christianity on Fourvière Hill’s architecture .

At the end of Antiquity, the Église Saint-Just was initially constructed in the 5th century. The original St. Just Basilica was f irst dedicated to the Maccabées (Holy Maccabean Martyrs), referring to a Jewish Family who lived in the 2nd century BC.

Also known as the Women with Seven Sons, they were executed in Palestine by the King of Syria for having refused to eat pork.

The Basilica was also dedicated to St Just , a Lyon bishop in the 4th century AD.

One day, a madman who had killed several people in Lyon took refuge in the Bishop’s cathedral after having been chased by citizens. However, the man’s hiding place was soon discovered, and the crowd went crazy as they wanted to avenge their fellow citizens’ deaths.

To calm them down, St Just accepted the task of asking the madman to leave the cathedral and hand him over to a magistrate if the crowd did not hurt him.

However, when the man got out of the building, he was lynched by the crowd. These events deeply affected the bishop, who resigned and flew from Lyon to Egypt, where he died in 390.

When the people of Lyon learnt of his death, they went to Egypt to fetch his body back to the city. They buried St Just’s body in a mausoleum in the Holy Maccabean Martyrs Basilica, which became St Just Basilica.

The history of the church

The old Basilica was extended and refurbished several times until the 16th century , especially during the 5th and 12th centuries. It had even become the second biggest church in Lyon, right after Lyon’s St Jean Cathedral. However, the building was destroyed in 1562 during the Wars of Religion .

Archaeologists discovered remains from the old Basilica in the 1970s, bought by Lyon’s municipality. Red and yellow blocks were placed where the old churches used to stand before being destroyed.

After being destroyed, St Just Church was rebuilt about 200 metres away from the original, where a Roman necropolis used to stand.

The construction of the current building started in 1565 and lasted for almost a century until 1663.

The neoclassical Jesuit façade was added in the early 18th century and was designed by Ferdinand-Sigismond Delamonce.

A consecration in Latin was sculpted on the façade: “ Machabaris primo deinde sancto ivsto ” (First to the Maccabeans, then to St Just) and two statues depicting St Just and St Irenaeus stand on each side of the church front. 

The building was damaged during the French Revolution, and forty years passed before Joseph-Jean-Pascal Gay refurbished St Just Church. Inside, we can see many paintings from the 18th century, mosaics and glass windows that especially depict the Virgin Mary and St Just.

Nowadays, the Church is a historical monument from 1980, and it is not used much for Christian ceremonies. However, it frequently welcomes sacred music concerts , thanks to the building’s large choir gallery and extraordinary acoustics.

Église Saint-Irénée

(St Irenaeus church)

Like the Église Saint-Just, the Église Saint-Irénée was first built in the 5th century , also on a Roman burial ground .

Two Christian martyrs of Lyon, Alexandre and Épipode, who had been tortured and executed in 177 in the Three Gauls Amphitheater on Croix-Rousse Hill, had been buried there.

A trace of that burial ground can still be seen today in the north wall of the current church. 

St Irénée (St Irenaeus) was Lyon’s second bishop : he came after St Pothin, one of Lyon’s Christian martyrs, in 177. He was a theologian and contributed to founding the Christian Community of Lyon.

Despite doubt about these facts, historians often consider he died a martyr in 202. His mortal remains were buried along with other Christian martyrs of Lyon, where the current Église Saint-Irénée now stands.

In the 5th century, a sanctuary dedicated to St John was built above the Christian martyrs’ crypt. After facing many tribulations, the church was eventually destroyed and rebuilt in the 9th century, although the crypt remained.

From the 10th century, the church has been dedicated to St Irénée.

Like St Just’s Church, the Église Sainte-Irénée was extensively damaged by the Protestants in 1562 during the Wars of Religion . The upper part of the church was totally destroyed, while the crypt suffered damage, especially the Christian martyrs’ bodies that were buried there.

The upper church was identically rebuilt in 1584, whereas the crypt was only restored in the 18th century.

After the French Revolution, the church started to collapse : most of the building had to be restored, while some parts were completely rebuilt in a neoclassical style between 1824 and 1830 by Lyon architects Louis-Céline Flacheron and Claude-Anthelme Benoît. As for the crypt, it was restored by Tony Desjardins in the 1860s.

A few Christian funerary writings from the 4th century remain on the crypt’s walls .

In the centre of the nave stands the “Puits des Martyrs” (Martyrs’ well), where the remains of the Lyon martyrs would have been resting before the crypt was damaged in 1562. The people of Lyon considered the soil from the well sacred and miraculous for treating incurable diseases.

In the centre of the choir, you can see a piece of white marble, which is thought to be the former St Irénée’s gravestone . The upper church is decorated with statues and glass windows from the 19th and 20th centuries, which depict the early years of the Christians in Lyon.

These works represent the martyrs of the 2nd century, including Holy Blandine and St. Irénée himself. The upper church and the crypt were ranked as historical monuments in 1862.

Finally, outside the church and behind its chevet, there is a calvary monument that dates back to  the 17th century . An underground chapel is located next to it but is closed to the public. It was destroyed in 1793, during the French Revolution, but was rebuilt in the 19th century, and the area became the Stations of the Cross. The Calvary monument is located west of the church, so it overlooks the  city of Lyon . Nowadays, it is one of the few monuments of its kind in the main city of France.

Things to do in Lyon

Looking for special and unique things to do in Lyon? Here are a few ideas:

• An Electric Ride in Lyon
• A Segway Tour of the Historic Centre of Lyon
• A Segway Tour of the Parc de la Tête d’Or
• A Dinner Cruise on the Hermès Barge in Lyon
• A Workshop and Street Art Walk around the Croix-Rousse District
• A Commented Cruise on a Barge in Lyon

For more activities and things to do in Lyon, check out the following offers:

English-French Vocabulary

(f) for  féminin , (m) for  masculin,  (adj) for  adjectives  and (v) for  verbs

• altar = autel (m)
• ancient = antique (adj)
• archbishop = archevêque (m)
• bailey = mur d’enceinte (m)
• bell = cloche (f)
• bishop = évêque (m)
• to bury = enterrer (v)
• cavalry monument = calvaire (m)
• choir = choeur (m)
• church = église (f)
• to climb = grimper (v)
• cloister = cloître (m)
• to collapse = s’effondrer (v)
• craftsman = artisan (m) / ouvrier (m)
• daily life = vie quotidienne (f)
• excavations = fouilles (f)
• to extend = étendre / agrandir (v)
• flat = plat (adj)
• footbridge = passerelle (f)
• forecourt = parvis (m)
• garden = jardin (m)
• gilded = doré (adj)
• glass window = vitrail (m)
• ground floor = rez-de-chaussée (m)
• high point = point culminant (m)
• high school = lycée (m)
• hill = colline (f)
• hilly = valloné (adj)
• to open = ouvrir (v)
• to reach = atteindre (v)
• to refurbish = rénover (v)
• remains = vestiges (m)
• Roman road = voie romaine (f)
• singer = chanteur (m) / chanteuse (f)
• slope = montée (f)
• speech = discours (m)
• stairs = escaliers (m)
• stroll = promenade (f)
• suburb = balieue (f)
• tool = outil (m)
• water = eau (f)

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25 PLACES TO SEE IN FRANCE

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The ONLY First Timer’s Guide to Vieux Lyon You NEED (Lyon Old Town)

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You’re walking through cobble stone streets that have been around for hundreds of years. Each step you take is like turning the pages of Vieux Lyon’s ancient past, through centuries of medieval and Renaissance history PLUS dope secret passageways. If you’re visiting Lyon then you can’t MISS the Lyon Old Town.

Lyon Travel Checklist

Are you ready for your trip to Lyon? Check this off your list. Did you book your:

✅ My top pick Lux hotels ( #1 & #2  )

✅  My top pick family hotel (w/ kitchenette)

✅  My top pick mid-range hotel   (my review here )

✅  Lyon City Pass

✅  Saone River Cruise

✅ French Travel Phrasebook

I’ve visited Lyon at least four times (yes savage) and Vieux Lyon is something I always find myself gravitating back towards. Here’s my complete guide to Vieux Lyon. Allez go.

This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission. This allows me to keep this blog going and provides you with free content. All opinions are my own.

What is the old town of Lyon called?

The Lyon old town is called “Vieux Lyon” in French.

Table of Contents

Vieux Lyon (Lyon Old Town)

Quick history of lyon’s old district (vieux lyon).

Vieux Lyon dates back to the Middle Ages. During the Renaissance period, it became an important center for silk production, trade and banking in France.

The silk trade brought great wealth to the city and Vieux Lyon played an important role in this industry. To protect the valuable silk, secret passageways called traboules were used (which you can explore today).

Vieux Lyon was also home to wealthy merchants and influential political figures. These traders came from Spain, Italy, German and Flanders and not only conducted business there, but also built their homes.

That’s why, for example, you will see Italian Renaissance influences (check out the Maison des Avocats” or House of Lawyers). Yes avocado is lawyer in French. Hilarious. 

What are the Subdistricts of Vieux Lyon?

Vieux Lyon is divided into several neighborhoods or districts, each with its own unique character and attractions. Here are the main subsections of Vieux Lyon:

1. Saint-Jean : This is the heart of Vieux Lyon and is known for its narrow cobblestone streets, Renaissance architecture, and the impressive Saint-Jean Cathedral. It’s a popular area for tourists and has many places to eat and go shopping.

2. Saint-Paul : Located to the north of Saint-Jean, Saint-Paul is another charming neighborhood in Vieux Lyon. It’s known for its traboules, historical buildings, and pretty squares.

3. Saint-Georges : Situated to the south of Saint-Jean, Saint-Georges is known for its lively atmosphere and is a hub for dining and entertainment. It features many restaurants, cafes, and shops.

4. Saint-Just : This district is located on the Fourvière Hill and is known for its historic sites. Think Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière and the Roman ruins. It offers panoramic views of the city and the rivers.

How to Reach Vieux Lyon?

• By Metro : The Lyon Metro is one of the easiest I’ve come across. Take Line D and get off at “Vieux Lyon. Cathédrale Saint Jean,” right in the heart of the Lyon old town.

Top tip : Save on transportation with the Lyon City Pass. You get free public transportation, so you don’t need to pay while travelling around the city.

• By tram : You can reach Vieux Lyon by taking Tram Line T1 or T2. Get off at Tram T1 stop “Saint André,” and Tram T2 stop “Saint Jean.”

• By train : If you’re arriving in Lyon by train, simply get off at the main train station, Gare de Lyon Part Dieu and then hop on Metro Line B to reach “Vieux Lyon. Cathédrale Saint Jean.” Alternatively, if you arrive at Gare de Lyon Perrache, you can also grab Metro Line A to get to Vieux Lyon.

Attention : Should you rent a car while in Lyon? The answer is no. It’s very pedestrian friendly. Plus, the city’s plan is to limit cars in the city center and make streets pedestrian only. I find public transportation works well to get around.

Best Things to Do in Vieux Lyon

Explore lyon’s secret passages:.

Explore the hidden passages of Vieux Lyon, known as “traboules,” which connect courtyards and streets. During World War II, these traboules also served as hiding spots for members of the French Resistance (who knew the city by heart).

Get my complete guide to the most beautiful traboules in Lyon OPEN to the public HERE

Climb up to Fourvière:

The Basilica of Notre Dame offers beautiful panoramic views of Lyon. It’s one of the MUST things to do in Vieux Lyon. Just like visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Fun fact : You’ve probably noticed a mini-Eiffel tower next to the church called the Fourvière tower. It’s closed to the public since the 1950’s.

Take the funicular up Fourvière and enjoy the panoramic views of the city and the Alps.

Appreciate L’horloge des Guignols:

Also known as the “Charvet Clock” this iconic clock situated in Lyon features characters from French puppet shows. Right outside the Musée Gadagne- kids love it.

Fun fact : After spending nearly 150 years at 8 rue Poulaillerie on the Presqu’île in Lyon 2nd, it was moved to Vieux Lyon (where it’s located now) .

Admire One of Lyon’s Oldest Houses:

You can find one of the oldest houses in Lyon within Vieux Lyon, known as the “Maison Thomassin.” It dates back to the 13 th century. That’s like 700 years old.

Stroll Around Rue Saint Jean:

This charming street lies in the heart of Vieux Lyon and has a lively atmosphere with its shops, restaurants and historical buildings. I love walking here to really get a feel and take in what Vieux Lyon is all about

Discover the Musée Gadagne:

Housed in a Renaissance mansion, this museum is dedicated to the history of Lyon.

This museum complex includes the Museum of Lyon History (Musée d’Histoire de Lyon), and the Museum of Puppets (Musée des Arts de la Marionnette) from the World.

This was a good museum I liked. It was informative about the history of Lyon from it’s Gaul past to modern times. It also had nice puppets and toy additions. I think kids will love it.

Top tip : Don’t miss the lovely open green terrace at the top with rose bushes. Take the elevator to the fourth floor (you don’t need tickets). One of the most romantic places in Lyon. It’s small but cozy. Enjoy a drink.

Try traditional Lyonnais cuisine (or not):

The area is renowned for its authentic Lyonnais bouchons, family-owned restaurants where you can taste the local culinary delights.

If you don’t have a calling for meat like me, there are some good vegan and vegetarian options.

Explore Saint Jean Cathedral:

The cathedral in Vieux Lyon is a symbol of Gothic architecture with stunning Gothic design located in Vieux Lyon.

Don’t forget to check out the impressive astronomical clock and enjoy the breathtaking views from the top.

Shop for Souvenirs to Take Back Home:

Vieux Lyon has many charming shops and boutiques selling unique souvenirs, from silk products to local crafts.

Top picks: There are some nice soap stores. Don’t miss the Little Prince store.

Admire the Temple du Change:

Take a moment to appreciate the Temple du Change at Place du Change—a charming square with lovely Renaissance buildings.

Fun fact : As an interesting tidbit I picked up from a tour guide (I was not prying I just passing by and happened to hear haha). Temple du Change was the Wall Street of Lyon during the 16th century.  It hosted Change Fair for 15 days where merchants would settle their transactions.

Walk along the Saône River:

Take a stroll down the Saône River and take in the beautiful views of the river and the city.

Visit the Miniature and Cinema Museum:

If you pass by Vieux Lyon you can’t miss this unique little museum which showcases of miniatures and special effects used in movies.

Top tip : There’s a teaser you can enter and view the displays and simply exit before reaching the ticket entrance.

Take a Guided Tour:

To get the most out of your visit, consider joining a guided walking tour. Local guides can provide you with insights and stories about the area about the neighborhood’s history, architecture, and hidden gems.

Enjoy a River Cruise:

Appreciate Lyon’s beauty even more with a scenic boat ride along the Saône River.

Grab a café at the many squares: Vieux Lyon has several charming squares, like Place Saint-Jean and Place du Change, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee and go people watching after a long day.

Visit the le Petit Musee de Guignol Museum:

Stop by this museum and boutique and be enamored by all the puppets. They have an collection of puppets from all over the world.

Grab a Selfie at the Iconic Palais de Justice:

With it’s impressive and view of the Soane, make sure to grab a selfie here and take in the views of the river right aross.

Keep in mind that exploring Vieux Lyon on foot is highly recommended. Take your time strolling through its narrow streets, appreciating the architecture and immerse yourself in the district’s rich history.

Where to Stay in Vieux Lyon?

Here’s my two cents. I actually don’t recommend to stay in Vieux Lyon. Don’t get me wrong it’s a great place to visit, but I would not want to stay there.

Here’s why:

• Limited Number of Hotels in Vieux Lyon
• Lyon is small and walkable PLUS has good public transport you can access better hotels elsewhere
• Along with rue Merciere, Vieux Lyon is as touristy as IT GETS
• Vieux Lyon can be loud and animated (if you’re into that stuff that’s cool I know I’m more of a quiet space person)

Best Lyon Hotels in the City Center

Note : Hotels outside of Lyon may be slightly lower in price. But I don’t believe in spending more than 30 minutes commuting for a hotel.

Plus, I hate wasting the day commuting- it takes away from the actual time to visit the sites. I believe you can find good hotels in the city center.

Most of the hotels are taken early so be sure to book your stay early. 

Search for Accommodation in Lyon, France

My Top pick Hotels in Lyon:

❤️️ Luxury: Hotel Boscolo : It is better value than the famous hotel in Hotel Dieu of similar standing- I have stayed in both. The rooms are also designed on the Petit Prince theme. Uhh who can resist.

Top tip : As a vegan, skip their breakfast and head to Zoe Café in Vieux Lyon (a vegan bakery).  

❤️️ Best for families : Warwick Reine Astrid – Lyon (great if you’re 5 ppl with kitchenette- also good if you have dietary restrictions (vegan) and need to cook.

❤️️ Best Mid-range : Mercure Lyon Plaza Republique . (My honest opinion)

❤️️ Budget & Quirky Hotel : Hôtel Le Boulevardier

How old is Vieux Lyon?

Vieux Lyon, which is the Lyon old town, has a long history dating back to medieval times. It stands as one of Europe’s most well preserved Renaissance districts, with numerous buildings from the 15th to 17th centuries.

What architectural style can be found in Vieux Lyon?

Vieux Lyon showcases predominantly Renaissance and medieval architectural styles within its historic Lyon old town. You’ll encounter beautifully preserved structures from the 15th to 17th centuries adorned with intricate details, timber framed houses and hidden passageways called “traboules.” The district’s charm is enhanced by the presence of the Saint Jean Cathedral, which showcases the exquisite beauty of Gothic architecture.

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• Best Things to Do in Lyon PLUS the only LOCAL Tips you NEED
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• 6 DOPE Lyon Festivals & Events You Simply Can’t Pass Up

Latifah is a vegan foodie who loves travelling and cooking plant-based recipes. She loves sharing her favorite travel spots and adding a sprinkle of confetti to your day.

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16 Eiffel Tower Replicas Located Outside of Paris

Ask anyone if they know where the Eiffel Tower is located and they will likely scoff as they say the French capital. Ask them where another version of the Eiffel Tower exists and they will undoubtedly look at you with a confused expression. Of course, everyone knows of the Eiffel Tower in Paris because it's among the most iconic landmarks on the planet , with roughly 7 million people visiting the 1,063-foot tall structure each year. And it's precisely because of its famous design that so many iterations have been made—a little more than 50, to be exact. And while they all don't exactly mirror Gustave Eiffel's dream, they all contain a similar DNA, namely the grillwork arches with which the original has become synonymous. Here, AD rounds up 16 Eiffel Tower replicas around the world that were not only built after the original was completed in 1889, but were inspired by it as well.

Tianducheng, China

Located in Tianducheng, China is a suburban sprawl that features a shockingly similar architectural resemblance to Paris . Which, of course, means they had to build their very own version of the Eiffel Tower.

Tokyo, Japan

Completed in 1958, Japan's Tokyo Tower soars nearly 2,000 feet in the sky (making it almost 1,000 feet taller than the real Eiffel Tower). Much like its French cousin, the Tokyo Tower has come to define its city skyline.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas's iconic strip wouldn't be complete without its own iteration of the Eiffel Tower, which is part of the Paris Las Vegas, a hotel and casino. Opened in 1999 and spanning some 540 feet, the structure is about half the size of the real tower in the French capital city.

Paris, Texas

A red cowboy hat adorns the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas. Dubbed the Texas Eiffel Tower, the structure was completed in 1993.

Berlin, Germany

The Funkturm Berlin (foreground), which was finished in 1926, was designed by German architect Heinrich Straumer. And while it wasn't built by the engineer Gustave Eiffel, it surely was influenced by the structure that was erected in Paris nearly four decades prior.

Shenzhen, China

Located in Shenzhen, China (a city in the southern part of the country near Hong Kong), is another replica of the Eiffel Tower. This one, however, is situated along the Pearl River Delta. The structure is part of Window of the World, a theme park that also features miniature versions of the pyramids in Giza and the Taj Mahal.

Lyon, France

Dubbed the Metallic Tower of Fourvière, the steel structure looks strikingly similar to the actual Eiffel Tower in Paris (which is situated some 290 miles to the southeast of Lyon). While the tower was completed in 1894, it waited nearly two decades before making its international debut at the Exposition Universelle of 1914 in Lyon.

Lahore, Pakistan

It might surprise some people to know that Lahore, Pakistan, has its very own Eiffel Tower replica.

Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico

Located in Gómez Palacio (a city that's roughly 215 miles due east of Monterrey) is Mexico's iteration of the Eiffel Tower. The structure is roughly one-sixth the size of the actual tower in Paris.

Slobozia, Romania

A replica of the Eiffel Tower has found its way to Slobozia, a small city in eastern Romania. The structure, which is roughly 177 feet tall, is located on private lands, and was built using the funds of a Romanian billionaire.

Sydney, Australia

Sydney's AWA tower doesn't look too out of the ordinary today, but when it was competed in 1939, the structure completely remade the city's skyline.

Sofia, Bulgaria

Located in an area known as Little Paris, the replica of the Eiffel Tower near Sofia, Bulgaria, features a restaurant about one-third of the way up the building. Standing some 105 feet in the air, the tower is about one-tenth the height of the actual structure.

Filiatra, Greece

The tiny town of Filiatra, Greece (roughly 173 miles southwest of Athens), is home to a 85-foot tall iteration of the Eiffel Tower. The structure was designed by the Greek doctor and sculptor Harris Fournarakis.

Epcot, Bay Lake, Florida

Opened in 1982, Epcot at Walt Disney World features its own version of the Eiffel Tower. Located in the section of the park dedicated to French culture, the structure is roughly 103 feet tall.

Fes, Morocco

Built to symbolize the friendship between France and Morocco, this Eiffel Tower replica is located in the city of Fes.

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Guatemala City's version of the Eiffel Tower (which is dubbed Torre del Reformador) spans across a street in the Guatemalan capital. Completed in 1935, the structure is 236 feet tall.