Place des Terreaux - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the largest museums in France and Europe. It is in a magnificent 17th-century building, located in the center of Lyon. Spread across 70 rooms, its collections offer visitors an exceptional journey from classical Antiquity right through to modern art. the Department of Antiquities presents more than 3 millennia of history from the Mediterranean basin. One of the unique locations to visit in this area.

The Fontaine Bartholdi is a fountain sculpted by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and realized in 1889 by Gaget & Gautier. It was erected at the Place des Terreaux, in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon, in September 1892. The fountain depicts France as a female seated on a chariot controlling the four great rivers of France represented by wildly rearing and plunging horses, highly individualized but symmetrically arranged, with bridles and reins of water weeds.

The Miniature and Cinema Museum, formerly the museum of miniatures and movie sets, is a private museum founded in 2005 by the miniaturist artist Dan Ohlmann. It is located in no 60 rue Saint-Jean in Lyon, hosted in the listed historic building of the former House lawyers. The museum houses two permanent collections: a collection devoted to the art of miniature painting and another to special effects techniques used in film shoots.

Lyon Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located on Place Saint-Jean in Lyon, France. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and is the seat of the Archbishop of Lyon. The cathedral was founded by Saint Pothinus and Saint Irenaeus, the first two bishops of Lyon. Each December, Lyon holds an annual Festival of Lights.

The Basilica Notre-Dame of Fourvière is the work of the architects Pierre Bossan and Sainte-Marie Perrin. The basilica is at the top of “the hill which prays”. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is listed as a historical monument, registered to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, considered as the emblem of the city of Lyon, the basilica welcomes over 2.5 million pilgrims and visitors each year. One of the famous tourist and pilgrimage centres in this area.

The largest pedestrianized square in Europe, Place Bellecour is a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site that spans 15 acres and is characterized by its distinctive reddish sand. It was the sight of royal parades for the king and executions via the guillotine during the French Revolution. Although the square isn’t too spectacular in the daytime, give it another try in the evening when the Ferris wheel lights up in a display of vibrant colors.