Must-see attractions in Lyon & the Rhône Valley

  • Caverne du Pont d'Arc

    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…

  • Cité du Chocolat Valrhona

    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, FRANCE, DECEMBER 22, 2014 : Musee des Confluences just inaugurated. Musee des Confluences is located at the confluence of the Rhone and the Saone rivers and a project of the Confluence district
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    Musée des Confluences

    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, FRANCE, OCTOBER 25, 2014 : Statues in the park of Palais Saint-Pierre. This Palace houses Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon and is a former Benedictine convent of the 17th century.; Shutterstock ID 226052629

    Musée des Beaux-Arts

    Lyon

    This stunning and eminently manageable museum showcases France's finest collection of sculptures and paintings outside of Paris, from antiquity onwards…

  • Pont d'Arc, a stone arch over the Ardèche; Shutterstock ID 1868516173; your: Sloane Tucker; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI
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    Pont d'Arc

    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…

  • Musée de la Mine

    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…

  • Musée Gallo-Romain

    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…

  • Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere in Lyon, France.

    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…

  • Arnaud Soubeyran

    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 "Confluences Museum" (France)

    Lyon Confluence

    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, FRANCE - JUNE 5: Exterior of St. John the Baptist cathedal in Lyon downtown with people passing by. June 2015; Shutterstock ID 405341626; Your name (First / Last): Daniel Fahey; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Lyon BiT

    Cathédrale St-Jean-Baptiste

    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, FRANCE, March 11, 2018 : Renaissance Architecture of the outsides of Gadagne Museum.; Shutterstock ID 1043863471; Your name (First / Last): Daniel Fahey; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Lyon BiT

    Musées Gadagne

    Lyon

    Housed in a 16th-century mansion built for two rich Florentine bankers, this twin-themed exhibition space incorporates an excellent local history museum,…

  • The Terreaux square with fountain in Lyon city, France; Shutterstock ID 281818262; Your name (First / Last): Daniel Fahey; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Lyon BiT

    Place des Terreaux

    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…

  • Opéra de Lyon

    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…

  • Musée de Valence

    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…

  • Parc de la Tête d'Or

    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…

  • 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…

  • Beaujolais Greenway

    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,…

  • Musée d'Art e d'Industrie

    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!…

  • Mur des Canuts

    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…

  • Parc des Oiseaux

    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…

  • Fresque des Lyonnais

    Lyon

    Well-known Lyonnais peer out from this beautifully executed seven-storey mural, including loom inventor Joseph-Marie Jacquard (1752–1834), Renaissance…

  • Grotte de la Madeleine

    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…

  • Musée Lumière

    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…

  • Théâtre Romain

    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…

  • Cité du Design

    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…

  • Atelier de Passementerie

    Lyon

    Preserved for posterity by the Soierie Vivante association, this silk-trimmings workshop functioned until 1979, weaving braids and intricate pictures…

  • Cathédrale St-Apollinaire

    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,…

  • Musée des Arts Décoratifs

    Lyon

    This well-organised museum displays 18th-century furniture, tapestries, wallpaper, ceramics and silver. Ticket includes admission to the adjoining Musée…

  • Musée des Tissus

    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…

  • Musée d'Art Contemporain

    Lyon

    Lyon's contemporary-art museum mounts edgy temporary exhibitions and a rotating permanent collection of post-1960 art. It sometimes closes for several…

  • Place Bellecour

    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.

  • Palais de Justice

    Lyon

    Facing the river in old Lyon, the grandiose neo-classical Palais de Justice is well worth a gander.

  • Château des Adhémar

    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…