Self-guided Sightseeing Tour #3 in Lyon, France

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Nature
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Historical
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Tour Facts

Number of sights 28 sights
Distance 9.7 km
Ascend 426 m
Descend 471 m

Experience Lyon in France in a whole new way with our self-guided sightseeing tour. This site not only offers you practical information and insider tips, but also a rich variety of activities and sights you shouldn't miss. Whether you love art and culture, want to explore historical sites or simply want to experience the vibrant atmosphere of a lively city - you'll find everything you need for your personal adventure here.

Individual Sights in Lyon

Sight 1: Amédée Bonnet

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Amédée Bonnet

Amédée Bonnet (20 March 1809 – 2 December 1858) was a French physician, surgeon at the Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon, and member of the Academy of Medicine. He is one of the forerunners of orthopedic surgery.

Wikipedia: Amédée Bonnet (FR)

1240 meters / 15 minutes

Sight 2: Musée d'art religieux de Fourvière

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The Musée d'art religieux de Fourvière or simply Musée de Fourvière is a museum of sacred art founded in 1960 in Lyon, France.

Wikipedia: Musée d'art religieux de Fourvière (FR), Website

35 meters / 0 minutes

Sight 3: Chapelle Saint-Thomas

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The chapel of Saint-Thomas is the oldest part of the sanctuary of Fourvière. Consecrated first to St. Thomas and then to the Virgin, it was destroyed and rebuilt many times.

Wikipedia: Chapelle Saint-Thomas de Lyon (FR)

160 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 4: Colline de Fourvière

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Fourvière is a city district of Lyon, France, a hill immediately west of the old part of the town, rising from the river Saône. It is the site of the original Roman settlement of Lugdunum in 43 BC. The district contains many religious buildings including convents, monasteries and chapels. It is known in Lyon as "the hill that prays".

Wikipedia: Fourvière (EN)

18 meters / 0 minutes

Sight 5: Basilique de Fourvière

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The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is a minor basilica in Lyon, France. It was built with private funds between 1872 and 1896 in a dominant position overlooking the city. The site it occupies was once the Roman forum of Trajan, the forum vetus, thus its name.

Wikipedia: Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière (EN), Website

604 meters / 7 minutes

Sight 6: Historic Site of Lyon

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Vieux Lyon is the largest Renaissance district of Lyon. In 1964, Vieux-Lyon, the city's oldest district, became the first site in France to be protected under the Malraux law to protect France's cultural sites. Covering an area of 424 hectares between the Fourvière hill and the river Saône, it is one of Europe's most extensive Renaissance neighborhoods. There are three distinct sections: Saint Jean, Saint Paul and Saint Georges. In 1998, Vieux Lyon was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with other districts in Lyon because of its historical importance and architecture.

Wikipedia: Vieux Lyon (EN), Heritage Website

543 meters / 7 minutes

Sight 7: Hôtel Bullioud

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Hôtel Bullioud

The Hotel Bullioud is a private mansion on the rue Juiverie in Lyon. He is known for the gallery of Philibert Delorme built following his trip to Italy (1536). Its decoration is the first experiment in France with a new architectural style, the Renaissance style.

Wikipedia: Hôtel de Bullioud (FR)

199 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 8: Salle Molière

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Salle Molière

The Salle Molière is a municipal concert hall in the 5th arrondissement of Lyon located in the Palais Bondy, in the Saint-Paul district, on the Quai de Bondy, on the right bank of the Saône.

Wikipedia: Salle Molière (FR), Website

282 meters / 3 minutes

Sight 9: Église Saint-Paul

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The Église Saint-Paul is a Roman Catholic church located in Lyon, France. It is situated in the Vieux Lyon, in the Saint-Paul quarter, in the 5th arrondissement of Lyon. The cathedral is in the Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. The tower-lantern was classified as monument historique in 1920, and the whole church was classified in 1996. In 2002, the church was completely renovated. It is around 45 m long and 16.5 m high under the arch.

Wikipedia: Église Saint-Paul (EN)

1259 meters / 15 minutes

Sight 10: DRAC Rhône-Alpes

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The granary of abundance is a former granary of the city of Lyon, in the French department of Rhône, Rhône-Alpes region.

Wikipedia: Grenier d'abondance (FR), Website

797 meters / 10 minutes

Sight 11: Jardin des Chartreux

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The Jardin des Chartreux is a park in Lyon of about one hectare, located in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse, on the Saône side and almost vertically above the river. The garden runs along the Cours Général-Giraud between the rue de la Muette and the Place Rouville. It is crossed by the Passage Gonin, a pedestrian path, which connects the Cours Général-Giraud to the Quai Saint-Vincent, along the Saône.

Wikipedia: Jardin des Chartreux (FR)

760 meters / 9 minutes

Sight 12: La fresque des Lyonnais

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La fresque des Lyonnais

The Fresque des Lyonnais is an 800 m2 mural located in Lyon, France. It depicts twenty-four historical figures from Lyon and six contemporary figures. It was created in 1994-1995 by CitéCréation.

Wikipedia: Fresque des Lyonnais (FR)

223 meters / 3 minutes

Sight 13: Église Notre-Dame-Saint-Vincent

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The Église Notre Dame Saint-Vincent is a Roman Catholic church located in Lyon, on the banks of the Saône, quai Saint-Vincent, in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon. In 1984, it was classified as monument historique.

Wikipedia: Église Notre Dame Saint-Vincent (EN)

151 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 14: Monument aux Grands Hommes de La Martinière

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The Monument to the Great Men of La Martinière is a monument located on Place Gabriel-Rambaud in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon, inaugurated on December 10, 1911.

Wikipedia: Monument aux Grands Hommes de la Martinière (FR)

164 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 15: Salle Rameau

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The Salle Rameau is a municipal hall located in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon, in the Terreaux district, rue de la Martinière.

Wikipedia: Salle Rameau (FR)

311 meters / 4 minutes

Sight 16: Mur des Fourrures

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The list of painted walls in Lyon is a non-exhaustive list of exterior murals in the Rhône department and the metropolis of Lyon. In everyday language, these "painted walls" are also called trompe-l'oeil or fresco.

Wikipedia: Liste de murs peints lyonnais (FR)

297 meters / 4 minutes

Sight 17: Jardin du Palais Saint-Pierre

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Jardin du Palais Saint-Pierre Mathilde Hospital / CC BY-SA 4.0

The garden of the Palais Saint-Pierre is a municipal garden in Lyon located within the walls of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon. It is part of a rectangle delimited by the arcades of the former cloister of the Benedictine abbey. Of regular style, it consists of lawns in half-moons or rectangulars, punctuated by vegetation and various sculptures. It is located in the city center on the peninsula. Like the Museum of Fine Arts, the garden is open every day, except Tuesdays and public holidays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wikipedia: Jardin du palais Saint-Pierre (FR)

19 meters / 0 minutes

Sight 18: Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon

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Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon - Photo Corentin Mossière / CC BY-SA 3.0

The Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon is a municipal museum of fine arts in the French city of Lyon. Located near the Place des Terreaux, it is housed in a former Benedictine convent which was active during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was restored between 1988, and 1998, remaining open to visitors throughout this time despite the ongoing restoration works. Its collections range from ancient Egyptian antiquities to the Modern art period, making the museum one of the most important in Europe. It also hosts important exhibitions of art, for example the exhibitions of works by Georges Braque and Henri Laurens in the second half of 2005, and another on the work of Théodore Géricault from April to July 2006. It is one of the largest art museums in France.

Wikipedia: Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon (EN), Website

47 meters / 1 minutes

Sight 19: Démocrite méditant sur le siège de l'âme

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Démocrite méditant sur le siège de l'âme Léon-Alexandre Delhomme / CC BY-SA 3.0

Democritus Meditating on the Seat of the Soul is a statue by Léon-Alexandre Delhomme (1841–1895), exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1868. It shows the Greek philosopher Democritus, his eyes fixed on a skull he holds in his hands. It is now exhibited in the garden of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon.

Wikipedia: Democritus Meditating on the Seat of the Soul (EN)

210 meters / 3 minutes

Sight 20: Fontaine Bartholdi

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The Fontaine Bartholdi is a fountain sculpted by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and realised in 1889 by Gaget & Gautier. It was erected at the Place des Terreaux, in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon, in September 1892.

Wikipedia: Fontaine Bartholdi (EN)

230 meters / 3 minutes

Sight 21: Hôtel de ville

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Hôtel de ville

The Hôtel de Ville is the city hall of Lyon, France, and one of the largest historic buildings in the city. It is located between the Place des Terreaux and the Place de la Comédie, in front of the Opera Nouvel. Built in the late 17th century, the building has been classified as a Monument historique 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.

Wikipedia: Hôtel de Ville, Lyon (EN)

162 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 22: Opéra de Lyon

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The Opéra Nouvel in Lyon, France, is the home of the Opéra National de Lyon. The original opera house was re-designed by the distinguished French architect, Jean Nouvel between 1985 and 1993 in association with the agency of scenography dUCKS scéno and the acoustician Peutz. Serge Dorny was appointed general director in 2003.

Wikipedia: Opéra Nouvel (EN)

228 meters / 3 minutes

Sight 23: Le Patineur

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Le Patineur

The Skater, or The Man of the Future or the Man of Freedom, is a sculpture by French artist César Baldaccini made in 1989. It has been located since 1992 on Place Tolozan, in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon, France.

Wikipedia: Le Patineur (César) (FR)

469 meters / 6 minutes

Sight 24: Église Saint-Polycarpe

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The Église Saint-Polycarpe is a Roman Catholic church located in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon, on the slopes of La Croix-Rousse, between rue René Leynaud, rue Burdeau and passages Mermet and Thiaffait. It is the oldest church of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri.

Wikipedia: Église Saint-Polycarpe (EN)

360 meters / 4 minutes

Sight 25: Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules

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The Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls of Lugdunum (Lyon) was part of the Sanctuary of the Three Gauls dedicated to the cult of Rome and Augustus celebrated by the 60 Gallic tribes when they gathered at Lugdunum. In 1961, it was classified as a monument historique.

Wikipedia: Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls (EN)

286 meters / 3 minutes

Sight 26: Église du Bon-Pasteur

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The Église du Bon-Pasteur is a Roman Catholic church located at rue Neyret on the slopes of La Croix-Rousse, near the montée de la Grande Côte, in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon. Cardinal Barbarin described the church as "highly symbolic for Lyon Christians".

Wikipedia: Église du Bon-Pasteur (EN)

452 meters / 5 minutes

Sight 27: Cour des Voraces

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Cour des Voraces Blaise LAUSTRIAT (je suis l'auteur) / CC BY-SA 2.5

The Cour des Voraces, also called Maison de la République, is a courtyard building in the Pentes quarter, in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon, famous for its enormous six-floor stairway. It is an impressive traboule, a covered passage with entrances on Place Colbert, Montée Saint-Sébastien and Rue Imbert-Colomès.

Wikipedia: Cour des Voraces (EN)

155 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 28: Galeries souterraines de la balme Saint-Clair

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The Fishbones, also underground galleries of the Balme Saint-Clair or sometimes the Fantasques network, is the name given to a network of ancient galleries located under the Croix-Rousse plateau in Lyon. This archaeological site consists of galleries arranged in steps and all inclined towards the Rhône.

Wikipedia: Arêtes de poisson (FR)

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