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Lyon · Mixed

The Best of Lyon: from Bellecour up to the Croix-Rousse

Between the Rhône and the Saône, the Presqu'île is the Lyon of strolls, squares and grand buildings. This mixed route crosses it from south to north, from vast Place Bellecour to the Terreaux, and finishes by climbing the Montée de la Grande-Côte to a viewpoint on the Croix-Rousse. It is the must-see route if this is your first day in the city.

  • 6 stops
  • 3 km
  • 2 h
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
The Bartholdi Fountain on Place des Terreaux: a woman driving a chariot pulled by four horses

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Place BellecourOne of the largest squares in Europe, with a king on horseback, a poet-aviator and a memorial to the Resistance.
  2. 2 Place des JacobinsA convent square turned elegant drawing room, with a fountain honouring four Lyon artists.
  3. 3 Fresque des LyonnaisA painted façade where Lyon's most famous people lean out of the windows: from Blandina to the Lumière brothers.
  4. 4 Place des Terreaux and the Bartholdi FountainAn old moat turned stage for civic power, with a fountain that Bordeaux didn't want.
  5. 5 Lyon Opera HouseAn 1831 theatre with a glass vault on top: Jean Nouvel's bold stroke.
  6. 6 Montée de la Grande-CôteThe slope the canuts marched down in 1831 ends at one of the best viewpoints in Lyon.

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Start with GPS

Guide mode

Walk it with GPS.

Open guide mode on your phone: you’ll see your position and the distance to each stop, and we’ll let you know when you arrive. Then read or listen.

Start with GPS

  1. Turn on your location

  2. Walk to the spot

  3. Check the photo and listen

What you’ll discover

The Best of Lyon: from Bellecour up to the Croix-Rousse

The highlights in one walk

Bellecour, the Jacobins, the Fresque des Lyonnais, the Terreaux and the Opera in just over two hours.

Art in the street

A giant trompe-l'œil, a fountain by the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty and an opera house with a glass vault.

A finish with a view

The route ends at the top of the Grande-Côte, with Fourvière and the roofs of Lyon in front of you.

Keep exploring

More routes in Lyon

Back to Lyon
HistoryFrom Lugdunum to the Canuts: 2,000 Years of Lyon on Foot Mysteries & legendsCandles, Martyrs and Puppets: the Legends of Lyon

Itineraries

How many days do you have in Lyon?

We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.

1

Lyon in 1 day

All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.

See the itinerary 2

Lyon in 2 days

A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.

See the itinerary 3

Lyon in 3 days

The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.

See the itinerary