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 15th century private mansion |
13 Rue de la Poulaillerie Lyon 69002 France +33 4 7837 6598 http://www.bm-lyon.fr/musee/im... |
This private mansion was built at the end of the 15th century and bought by the town of Lyon early in the 17th century to store council archives and as a venue for council meetings. Like most of the mansions in this neighbourhood which were built at the end of the Middle Ages, the floors are connected by a series of loggias that open onto a central courtyard. The building has been perfectly restored and now houses the Musée de l'Imprimerie. Visitors can walk into the courtyard without charge to admire the remarkable mullioned windows in the loggias and the stele commemorating the first town meeting that took place in this mansion in 1604. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
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A majestic 17-18th century city hall restored by architect Mansart |
1 Place de la Comédie Lyon 69001 France +33 4 7210 3030 |
In the 17th century the councillors and council offices had offices in the hôtel de la Couronne but a decision was made rapidly to construct a more suitable building. So, between 1646 and 1672, S.Maupin was responsible for building a monument that reflected the ambitions of the city of Lyon: he imagined four buildings around an entrance courtyard (opposite today's Opéra house). In this courtyard a portico and a grand staircase lead to the "cour d'honneur". The building was barely finished in 1674 when it caught fire and further financing and extensive re-decoration were needed. All the pavilions and the belfry (containing 65 bells) resisted reasonably well until the restoration started in 1700 under the guidance of J.H.Mansart who also improved the outer decor. A magnificent hemicycle-shaped portico decorated with Gods of the sea and a Cyclops was added in the "cour d'honneur". Mansart completed his design with the ancient architecture he so admired. The decoration of the main rooms, such as "la grandeur consulaire de Lyon" painted by T.Blanchet in 1660, was a source of great pride for the city of Lyon and its councillors. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Pierre Numérique  |
 Photo: skramble.com |
 Photo: orangetokyo |
 Photo: Damien Bargiacchi |
 Photo: Flocopops |
 Photo: Domdomfrommionnay |
 Photo: simhuiyin85 |
 Photo: Nigel Chan |
 Trompe l'?il murals |
2 Rue de la Martinière Lyon 69001 France |
In terms of gastronomy, Lyon is well-known for its hot Sausage and Quenelles and everyone knows that the Guignol puppet theater originated here. Now Lyon has another claim to fame - its trompe lil painted walls. If you liked the reproduction of the "Cour des Loges" near place Fousseret and the frescoes in the "cité Tony Garnier" (see Quartier des Etats Unis), then you will appreciate this mural, which represents local culture. On the corner of quai Saint Vincent and rue de la Martinière, portraits of the major players in the history of Lyon have been painted on balconies. You might recognise some, such as the Emperor Claude, Laurent Mourguet, creator of Guignol puppets, Bertrand Tavernier the film-maker or abbé Pierre. Several streets away from the "mur des Lyonnais", the painted wall of the city library "biliothèque de la cité" in rue de la Platière shows the town's literary achievements in a neighbourhood where bookshops abound. This is just opposite quai de la Pecherie where people come every weekend to browse through old books. On this wall, Rabelais, Elsa Triolet, Tardi and other local heroes are painted into a virtual décor that illustrates the different types of writing mediums. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Katie Yurkewicz |
 Photo: dornrade |
 Photo: NiceMarmot |
 The second museum of France |
20 Place des Terreaux Lyon 69001 France +33 4 7210 1740 |
Since 1803, this museum has housed premier collections and exhibition. Today it boasts of more than 700 paintings, 300 sculptures and thousands of objets d'art, including antiquities, coins and medals. The ground floor houses the refectory and chapel (formerly the church of St Pierre), containing 19th- and 20th-century sculptures. The first floor includes Egyptian, Greek and Roman (before 200BC) antiquities; the second floor is dedicated to paintings from the 15th-20th centuries. Two book and gift shops and a refreshment area are on site. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Emily Bradford |
 Photo: Fabian Ong |
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Books and banknotes |
13 Rue de la Poulaillerie Lyon 69002 France +33 4 7837 6598 http://www.bm-lyon.fr/musee/im... |
This museum was founded in 1964 and is located in the Hotel de la Couronne, a Renaissance dwelling that was home to the town hall until the 17th century. The museum is split into two museums of unequal sizes - Musée de l'Imprimerie (Museum of Printing) and the Musée de la Banque (Museum of the Bank). The Museum of printing traces the history of printing and graphic arts, focusing on origins of the craft through papyrus, early printed books (1455-1500), newspapers, illustrations and more. The museum of the bank tells the history of the Lyonnaise bank of the 16th century, a time when Lyon ruled as the the commercial and banking capital. Admission is EUR3.80. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: dannyman |
 Photo: -Kj. |
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A neo-classical opera house |
1 Place de la Comédie Lyon 69001 France +33 4 7200 4545 http://www.opera-lyon.com/ |
If there is one opera house that bears witness to the theatrical past of its town, then it is the Opera House of Lyons. Architects J.M. Pollet and A.M. Chenavard chose to build their new opera house exactly where Soufflot built his theatre in 1756. This opera house was built between 1756 and 1832 to cater to the growing popularity of opera in Lyons at the end of the 18th century. The style is neo-classical, which was typical of the time, with a peristyle on the ground floor and decor you would expect in a Greco-Roman temple with its chimera and muses - eight out of nine celebrating the Arts! Following a competition set up by the Council of Lyons, the Opera House was renovated by the architect Jean Nouvel between 1985 and 1993. He succeeded to preserve the original structure and the four outer façades whilst giving it a modern face lift. Extra floors have been added in the basement and the upper part to increase the overall capacity of the building. It now accommodates a corps de ballet, an orchestra as well as many rehearsal rooms, storage areas for costumes and props. The main hall has been decorated using various black and red materials such as granite and wood and uses a soft lighting system which is particularly effective at nightfall when combined with the outside lights. There is a classic programme including Prokofiev, Puccini and Ravel. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: JaHoVil |
 Photo: Patrick GUYENNON |
 Photo: nick_g |
 Small park on the Croix-Rousse slopes open day and night |
12 Rue du Jardin des Plantes Lyon 69001 France +33 4 7828 8677 |
If you have already been to the Jardin des Plantes in Paris or in Nantes, the name will conjure up pictures of 19th century greenhouses, the scent of exotic trees and plants imported from all over the world. To see all that, you should head straight for the parc de la Tête d'Or as this Jardin des Plantes is quite different. This public garden is open day and night and on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse district. The botanical park which is now in the parc de la Tête d'Or was originally in Croix-Rousse. The garden is a welcome surprise for those brave enough to cross the slopes, a short walk from sanctuaire gallo-romain. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Nathan Robinson |
 Photo: Martha Earls |
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Grandiose neoclassical stock exhange |
Place de la Bourse Lyon 69002 France |
This is a stock exchange built by R. Dardel between 1855 and 1862. The main room is a glass-roofed, atrium-style hall with ancient galleries facing the exterior and the sculpted decor is sumptuous. Place de la Bourse on the northern side of the building was recently converted into a pretty little garden by A. Chemetoff. Try to see the sculptures by G. Bonnet on this façade or if you prefer neoclassical architecture, go to the south façade. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Z Mallavia |
 Photo: Michael Crawford |
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Town Square of Lyon |
Place Louis Pradel Lyon 69001 France |
Located right next to the grand Hôtel de Ville de Lyon and the Opéra national de Lyon, Place Louis Pradel is in the center of many of the tourist attractions in Lyon. It's the perfect place to enjoy a drink, recover from shopping or museum-going, and people-watch. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Large public square |
1-25 Place des Terreaux (Rue d'Algerie) Lyon 69001 France |
The word "terreaux" describes the old moats and medieval mud ("terre") walls that protected the town up to the end of the 16th century. These were filled in to make room for a large square where the town's guillotine was erected. It is the second most important square after Place Bellecour, as it is flanked by Palais Saint Pierre and the Hôtel de Ville (city hall). In 1892, the city council bought a statue from the famous sculptor Bartholdi (of Statue of Liberty fame) which Bordeaux had commissioned then refused. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: eleonor |
 Photo: Jen Penkethman |
 Photo: Javier rIL (www.ril.es) |
 Photo: Laurent-Walter Goix |
 Photo: Francine Clouden |
 Photo: Tim Papenfuss |
 Photo: Fabienne Chemin |
 Photo: Laurent Battesti |
 Photo: J. Attiogbe |
 Photo: Fotis Karagiannis |
 Photo: Emily Shirley |
 Photo: Anaël Pichon |
 Photo: Mihaela Pacurar |
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Old convent |
20 Place des Terreaux Lyon 69001 France |
In 1802, the Museum of Fine Arts was installed in one of the oldest convents in Lyon. According to Medieval texts, women's monasteries were found as early as the end of the 7th century. This particular monastery became very influential and was able to purchase land throughout the region. Today's Dames de Saint Pierre was built in the second half of the 17th century but excavation in Saint Pierre chapel (where these relics can be seen) brought to light remains from the 12th century. In the 10-11th centuries, this Benedictine abbey took in mainly well-born women some of whom became renowned abbesses. Anne and Antoinette d'Ailly de Chaulnes were responsible for the 17th century reconstruction. The relatively plain facade has borrowed elements from classical architecture. The old cloister at the entrance to the museum can be visited when the museum is open and in the recently restored cloister garden you can see sculptures by Rodin (L'Ombre), Carpeaux and Bourdelle. In the summer, this is a good place to escape from the city. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Etienne Dessaut |
 Photo: IVOBO |
 Gothic church of St. Nizier |
Place St-Nizier Lyon 69001 France +33 4 7241 1805 |
The church of Saint Nizier is one of the oldest in Lyon - writers of the Middle Ages described it as the funeral basilica where the ashes of the first Lyonnaise martyrs in 177 were kept. According to the famous 6th century writer Grégoire de Tours it was the tomb of his uncle Saint Nizier, the namesake of the church. What is certain is that the edifice founded under bishop Leidrade, close to Charlemagne, has diasappeared because it was replaced by the present construction in the 15th century. Saint Nizier is in reality a clever mixture of Gothic, Baroque and Neogothic architecture! The oldest parts like the majority of the façade and the interior area are in a Gothic style: the north steeple was constructed using the ideas of old Roman monuments, the nave is a perfect example of Gothic flamboyance (see Triforium and ribs of the vault). The columned apse of the entrance porch, added in 1579 by J. Vallet, adds a little touch of Renaissance. But overall it is the revival of interest in the Middle Ages that has been the inspiration for many modifications: A. Benoit constructed the south steeple using the design of the north steeple, but making it a little more geometric (1855-56) and the interior fittings were completely modified (furnishings, stain glass windows, organ, paintings, and statues). Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Antoine Rambaud |
 Photo: manufrakass |
 Photo: Cédric |
 Photo: Cyrille Frey |