Visiting Lyon, France: Top Sights on Foot

Lyon, France, brings together Roman ruins, medieval and Renaissance streets, historic churches, museums and the distinctive landscape of the Rhône and Saône. The city is especially rewarding to explore on foot, from the passages of Vieux Lyon to Fourvière Hill, the Presqu’île and the former silk-workers’ district of Croix-Rousse. Neywo offers a free audio guide for Lyon with 414 narrated places.

Lyon is in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, in eastern France.

What to see in Lyon

Vieux Lyon and Lyon Cathedral

Vieux Lyon stretches along the right bank of the Saône beneath Fourvière Hill. Its three historic areas—Saint-Jean, Saint-Paul and Saint-Georges—form one of Europe’s most extensive surviving Renaissance neighbourhoods. The district became the first site in France protected under the Malraux law in 1964 and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.

At the centre of Saint-Jean stands Lyon Cathedral, or Cathédrale Saint-Jean. Construction began in 1175 and continued until 1480, producing a building that combines Romanesque and Gothic elements. Its long construction was shaped by the restricted space between the hill and the river, as well as by the political circumstances of medieval Lyon.

Vieux Lyon also contains the Gadagne museum complex, housed in the Renaissance Hôtel des Pierrevive. It brings together the Lyon History Museum and the Museum of Puppet Arts. The building was classified as a historic monument in 1920 and reopened in 2009 after more than ten years of renovation and expansion.

Fourvière Hill and its Roman remains

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière has overlooked Lyon from the summit of Fourvière Hill since the late nineteenth century. Its construction began in 1872 and was completed in 1896. Designed by Pierre Bossan, with much of the work carried out by Louis Sainte-Marie Perrin, the basilica is known for its neo-Byzantine architecture.

The surrounding complex includes the Saint-Thomas Chapel, a statue of Mary, a panoramic esplanade and the Jardin du Rosaire. The site is also connected with the ancient Roman Forum vetus and with Lyon’s long tradition of devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Fourvière is also the place to explore Lyon’s Roman past. The Sanctuary of Cybèle, also known as the Prétendu Sanctuaire de Cybèle or Temple de Cybèle, preserves traces of the ancient Roman city. Nearby, the Basilique Saint-Just de Lyon reflects another layer of religious history. The church was destroyed during the French Wars of Religion and rebuilt within the city walls in 1565.

Museums and printing history

Lyon’s cultural history extends beyond its churches and ancient ruins. Near Place des Terreaux, the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon occupies the former Palais Saint-Pierre, a historic abbey setting. Founded in 1801 and opened to the public in 1803, its collections range from ancient Egypt to modern art. Around 700 paintings are displayed in thirty-five rooms, including works by Rembrandt and Paul Gauguin, alongside sculpture collections.

For a different perspective on the city’s heritage, visit the Musée de l’Imprimerie et de la Communication Graphique in the Hôtel de la Couronne. Created in 1964, the museum is devoted to printed books and graphic arts. Its mission includes preserving, documenting and presenting Lyon’s printed and graphic heritage.

Place des Terreaux and the Bartholdi Fountain

Place des Terreaux is home to the Fontaine Bartholdi, created by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and installed here in 1892. Its official title, “Les fleuves et les sources allant à l’océan”, refers to rivers and springs flowing towards the ocean. The sculpture was realised in 1889 by Gaget and Gautier before being erected on the square.

The square also places visitors close to the Museum of Fine Arts and the city’s central streets, making it a useful starting point for exploring Lyon’s architecture and public spaces.

The silk heritage of Croix-Rousse

Lyon’s history of silk production is particularly visible in Croix-Rousse. The Atelier Mattelon, at 10 Rue Richan in Lyon’s fourth arrondissement, is a weaving workshop listed as a historic monument since 2013. It offers a concrete reminder of the craft traditions that shaped the district.

The city’s silk story also appears in the historic buildings and passages of Lyon. In Vieux Lyon, Renaissance residences and covered routes reflect the commercial life of merchants and silk workers. These traboules—passageways connecting streets and courtyards—are among the most distinctive things to do in Lyon, allowing visitors to experience the historic neighbourhood through its hidden circulation routes.

Historic residences and religious buildings

The House of Pauline Jaricot, also known as Maison de Lorette or Maison Bréda, stands in Lyon’s fifth arrondissement. Built around 1520 by Pierre Burbenon on the remains of a fourteenth-century building, it began as a country retreat and was enlarged in the eighteenth century. Its exposed jointed ceilings, ornamental moulding and wall paintings help explain its classification, together with its outbuildings, as Historic Monuments in 2004.

Near the Saône, the former église Saint-Romain de Lyon dates from 1400–1430. It was connected with the cloister of Lyon Cathedral and was destroyed in 1744. Nearby, the Palais archiépiscopal de Lyon, also known as the Palais Saint-Jean, served for centuries as the residence of Lyon’s bishops and archbishops. Since 1974, it has stored the city’s municipal archives.

Ainay, the Presqu’île and the Rhône

The Basilica of Saint-Martin d’Ainay is one of the defining landmarks of the Presqu’île. This former abbey church dates from the twelfth century and is a notable example of Romanesque architecture. Dedicated to Martin of Tours, it was listed as a historic monument in 1840 and became a minor basilica in 1905.

On the left bank of the Rhône, Château de La Motte occupies a small raised mound near two historic routes leading east and south from Lyon. Its surviving structure forms an irregular quadrangle with towers and a southern entrance that still preserves its battlements. The first recorded occupant was Lord Jean de Villeneuve, mentioned in 1476; the castle later received notable guests including Louis XII and Marie de Médicis.

For a modern urban landmark, the Stade de Gerland, also known as the Matmut Stadium de Gerland, combines Lyon’s football history with its current role as the home ground of rugby club Lyon OU. Designed by Tony Garnier, it was completed in 1920. Its four old entrance arches have been protected as historic monuments since 1967, as has the stadium itself.

Explore Lyon with a free audio guide

Neywo includes 5 walking tours, 1 bus route and 1 bike route in Lyon, with narration available in 11 languages. Together, the routes cover the city’s Roman heritage, religious landmarks, Renaissance quarters, silk history, museums and parks:

• Fourvière Hill: 2.19 km, 110 minutes and 11 narrated stops.
• Vieux Lyon: 1.59 km, 115 minutes and 12 narrated stops.
• The Presqu’île: 2.37 km, 112 minutes and 10 narrated stops.
• Croix-Rousse: 3.47 km, 110 minutes and 9 narrated stops.
• Ainay and Bellecour: 2.57 km, 94 minutes and 9 narrated stops.
• Bus route from the Confluence to the Terreaux: 6.3 km, 27 minutes and 8 narrated stops.
• Bike route through the Parc de la Tête d’Or: 2.1 km, 11 minutes and 5 narrated stops.

Download Neywo and explore Lyon at your own pace. The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, with no group and no schedule.