Lyon sights and landmarks guide

Sights to See in Lyon, France

Built on the convergance of the rivers Rhone and Saone,  Lyon’s architecture is an amazing diversity of styles dating from Roman times to present day.  Situated, as it is, in the south-east of France, Lyon is the third largest city in the country, and the greater Lyon area is the second largest metropolis.  It comes, then, as no surprise, that Lyon has every possible tourist entertainment imagineable. The city of Lyon is world-famous for its cuisine.  It  boasts a huge number of renowned eateries, ranging from sumptuous restaurants offering elegant meals to small street cafes serving sandwiches that are second to none.  Whatever your gastronomic taste, Lyon has an establishment to serve yours needs.

 Lyon’s Architecture   

In Lyon the many ancient buildings are a haven for students of architecture and well worth a visit. 

•The Palais Episcopal Saint-Jean in Lyon is a mixture of architecture, mainly inspired by religious and Gothic art, but the building has been added to at different times since the 15th century.

•The Maison du Soleil at 2 Rue Saint Georges was the home of the Barou du Soleil family during the 1700’s.  This beautiful building, with its elaborate courtyards, is a very popular destination for tourists to Lyon.

• Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière was built between 1872 and 1896.  The architecture is based on Byzantine and Romanesque, both of which were unusual at the time.  This imposing building is a highlight of Lyon’s architecture and not to be missed.  

Museums and Galleries in Lyon

 Lyon’s history is varied and interesting.  It was once the world center of the silk industry and was also the home of the French Resistance.  It is no wonder then that the city of Lyon boasts over thirty museums, housing permanent collections and frequent exhibitions.

•The Decorative Arts Museum in Lyon was founded in 1925 in what was previously the Lacroix-Laval Mansion.  It houses a large selection of intricate furniture and woodwork, ceramics and china, and an impressive collection of Renaissance Italian majolica.  The Museum also displays a collection of unusual straw-inlay work.

•The Museum of Fine Arts in the centre of Lyon is housed in what used to be the Abbey of the Ladies of Saint Pierre.  This is home to one of France’s largest art collections and displays are from ancient Greece and Egypt, works from the Middle Ages, as well as more modern and contemporary art work.

•Lyon’s Musee d’Art Contemporain was founded in 1983.  It has gone through many transformations since then but today it is the only museum in France where exhibits are created on site.  It is also the largest-ever collection in Europe of art that has been created in situ. With such a wide variety of places to see and things to do it is impossible to create a definitive visitors’ guide for the city of Lyon.  But, for anyone planning a trip to France, Lyon should definitely be on the itinerary.