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Location > Visits in LyonThe historic site of Lyon was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998. The specific regions comprising the historic site include the Roman district and Fourvière, the Renaissance district (Vieux Lyon), the silk district (slopes of Croix-Rousse), and the Presqu'île, which features architecture from the 12th century to modern times. Both Vieux Lyon and the slopes of Croix-Rousse are known for their narrow passageways (named traboules) that pass through buildings and link streets on either side.
Visiting Lyon with a self-guided tour is a way of making sure you don't miss the essentials and get to see the loveliest places, even those that are hidden from sight !
OLD TOWN :
Visit the iconic Saint-Jean Cathedral, which is almost 1000 years old. Paved streets, magnificent Renaissance façades, traboules (hidden passageways) and beautiful inner courtyards give this district its unique character. You can visit the Musée Cinéma et Miniature and its amazing film set displays, including the actual Alien queen from the film Alien vs. Predator!. And don't forget to go give a look at ‘la ficelle des morts’, the name given to the funicular that took the bodies of the deceased up to the top of Fourvière hill.
LYON FOURVIERE :
The esplanade of Fourvière offers a magnificent uninterrupted view of Lyon. The discovery of the basilica, one of the symbols of the city, immerses you in the late 19th century. Don’t walk by without taking a look inside, because the interior is just as remarkable as the outside. Do not forget to go to the Gallo-Roman site Lugdunum where there is a great view of the entire Peninsula, which was founded on the hill of Fourvière in 43 BC. Then walk down towards Old Lyon at the bottom of the hill, and go through a few of the narrow streets and the squares and delve into the "traboules" to discover hidden courtyards, galleries and wells...
LYON CROIX ROUSSE:
Famous for its many stairs and hidden passageways, known as ‘traboules’, the Croix-Rousse district is closely linked with the local silk industry that established itself here in the nineteenth century. But who were the people behind this industry and were they always located here?
Learn about the fascinating history of the Canuts, as Lyon’s silk-workers were known, and the famous Jacquard loom, admire the beautiful Fresque des Canuts, a giant trompe l'oeil mural, measuring an impressive 1200 m², which depicts the special atmosphere of the Croix-Rousse district so well !
LYON BELLECOUR:
The Place Bellecour, a huge pedestrian plaza known as ‘Place Royale’ before the French Revolution, is the fourth largest square in France and its east and west sides are lined by elegant 19th-century buildings. Learn about the history and architecture of the area around the square, which is now the very centre of the city, let yourself be guided to the Place Carnot, another delightful square. Take a seat at one of the bars or restaurants lining the square and enjoy the views of five and six-story 19th-century buildings.
LYON STREET ART : Discover the unique Etats-Unis district and its murals, far from the city’s usual tourist hotspots, and learn about the major housing project imagined by architect Tony Garnier as a solution to working class poverty in the twentieth century. As you explore this open-air museum you can admire the many murals that illustrate Tony Garnier’s project.
LYON CONFLUENCE :
How about visiting this expanding district, where the congress is taking place, and get a better idea of this exceptional urban project?
Set out on a discovery tour of a district that popped out of nowhere (well nearly). Follow the guide, who will treat you to a professional tour of the Confluence area, to explain how this new district, which is very popular with Lyon's younger working generations, was designed.
A model of contemporary urbanism, where development has been thought as a whole: housing, shops and services, leisure, transport modes and environmental preservation.
Find more visits on the Lyon tourist office webpage
You can also organise your own self-guided tour ! Just check the must see in Lyon and select your monuments :
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