Lyon & the Rhône Valley
This unique complex about 7km northeast of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc takes you on an incredible journey back in time. The biggest replica cave in the world, it…
Must-see attractions in Lyon & the Rhône Valley
-
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
Death by chocolate! On the main road in Tain l'Hermitage, the Cité du Chocolat is a chocoholic's dream come true. This vast complex run by famous…
Lyon
This eye-catching building, designed by the Viennese firm Coop Himmelb(l)au, is the crowning glory of Lyon's newest neighbourhood, the Confluence, at…
Lyon
This stunning and eminently manageable museum showcases France's finest collection of sculptures and paintings outside of Paris, from antiquity onwards…
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
Spanning the Ardèche Gorge, this striking natural bridge is a must-see when visiting the area. Located 5km south of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, this 54m-high arch…
-
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
An old industrial mining site that was once the lifeblood of St-Étienne has been transformed into a fascinating exhibition complex. On a 75-minute guided…
-
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
Across the Rhône from Vienne, the Musée Gallo-Romain highlights Vienne's historical importance, displaying several rooms full of dazzling mosaics and…
Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière
Lyon
Crowning the hill, with stunning city panoramas from its terrace, this superb example of late-19th-century French ecclesiastical architecture is lined…
-
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
Though it's located 3km south of the centre, Arnaud Soubeyran is the best place to discover the Montélimar nougat connection. An intriguing multimedia…
Lyon
Lyon's race toward the future is personified in this reborn industrial district near the southern tip of Presqu'île. Once a landscape of empty warehouses…
Lyon
Lyon's partly Romanesque cathedral was built between the late 11th and early 16th centuries. The portals of its Flamboyant Gothic facade, completed in…
Lyon
Housed in a 16th-century mansion built for two rich Florentine bankers, this twin-themed exhibition space incorporates an excellent local history museum,…
Lyon
The centrepiece of the Presqu'île's beautiful central square is a 19th-century fountain made of 21 tonnes of lead and sculpted by Frédéric-Auguste…
-
Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
In the mood for a rural escape? Make a beeline for the Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat, which spills across 650 sq km between Lyon and St-Étienne. A haven…
-
Lyon
Lyon's neoclassical 1831-built opera house was modernised in 1993 by renowned French architect Jean Nouvel, who added the striking semi-cylindrical glass…
-
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
This great museum adjoining the cathedral offers a comprehensive and well-organised collection of art and archaeology from the Rhône Valley. Of particular…
-
Lyon
If you're museumed out, head to this lovely space north of the centre, which provides a green haven for nature lovers and families. Spanning 117 hectares,…
-
Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
The country’s second-largest Art Moderne museum after Paris’ Centre Pompidou, this museum features an exceptional collection of 20th-century and…
-
Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation
Lyon
The WWII headquarters of Gestapo commander Klaus Barbie evokes Lyon's role as the 'Capital of the Resistance' through moving multimedia exhibits. The…
-
La Maison du Terroir Beaujolais
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
This exhibition space has a series of rooms with audiovisual displays that highlight the wine, food and culture of the Beaujolais. If you'd rather not…
-
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
Set on a converted railway line, this new greenway runs for 15km between Beaujeu and Belleville. It's paved and mostly flat, making it ideal for cycling,…
-
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
Set in a palatial 19th-century building, this museum showcases St-Étienne's three big industries back in the day, namely bicycles, ribbons and guns!…
-
Lyon
Said to be Europe's largest fresco, this magnificent trompe l'oeil shows a slice of daily life among Lyon's residents. The work is packed with intricate…
-
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
Observe local and exotic birds, including dozens of pairs of storks, at the Parc des Oiseaux, a landscaped bird park comprising 24 protected habitats on…
-
Lyon
Well-known Lyonnais peer out from this beautifully executed seven-storey mural, including loom inventor Joseph-Marie Jacquard (1752–1834), Renaissance…
-
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
The Ardèche plateau is riddled with caves. One of the most atmospheric is Grotte de la Madeleine, which features impressive and colourful stalactite…
-
Salles-Arbuissonnas-en-Beaujolais Priory
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
For architecture buffs, this 10th-century priory founded by the monks of Cluny is a must. It's notable for its superb Roman cloister and elaborate porch…
-
Lyon
Cinema's glorious beginnings are showcased at the art nouveau home of Antoine Lumière, who moved to Lyon with sons Auguste and Louis in 1870. The brothers…
-
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
This vast, well-preserved Roman amphitheatre was built around AD 40–50 at the base of Mt Pipet, on the eastern fringes of the old town. At that time, it…
-
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
Find out about the Biennale Internationale Design fair and browse diverse, regularly changing exhibitions at the Cité du Design, in a gleaming glass-and…
-
Lyon
Preserved for posterity by the Soierie Vivante association, this silk-trimmings workshop functioned until 1979, weaving braids and intricate pictures…
-
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
A major landmark in the old town, this impressive cathedral dates from the late 11th century but was largely destroyed in the Wars of Religion before…
-
Église & Cloître St-André Le Bas
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
You can't miss this imposing church on the northern fringes of the old town. The back tower is decorated with tiny carved stone faces. In the cloister,…
-
Lyon
This well-organised museum displays 18th-century furniture, tapestries, wallpaper, ceramics and silver. Ticket includes admission to the adjoining Musée…
-
Lyon
Extraordinary Lyonnais and international silks are showcased here. Ticket includes admission to the adjoining Musée des Arts Décoratifs, which displays…
-
Musée Gallo-Romain de Fourvière
Lyon
For an enlightening historical perspective on the city's past, start your visit at this archaeological museum on the hillside of Fourvière. It hosts a…
-
Lyon
Lyon's contemporary-art museum mounts edgy temporary exhibitions and a rotating permanent collection of post-1960 art. It sometimes closes for several…
-
Lyon
One of Europe’s largest public squares, gravel-strewn place Bellecour was laid out in the 17th century. In the centre is an equestrian statue of Louis XIV.
-
Lyon
Facing the river in old Lyon, the grandiose neo-classical Palais de Justice is well worth a gander.
-
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
High above the old town, this 14th-century castle was built by the powerful Adhémar family. It's now used for art exhibitions as well as occasional hands…
