Free things to do in Lyon

Free things to do in Lyon

1. See

   Basilica of Saint-Martin d'Ainay

   Basilique St Martin d'Ainay

   The only entirely Romanesque church in Lyon, dating back to the 11th-12th centuries. The abbey of Ainay was one of the most powerful in France between the 13th and the 16th centuries. A must-see for its very nice atmosphere.

   Mon-Sat 08:30-12:00, 14:30-18:00, Sun 08:30-12:00·Free

2. See

   Church of Saint-Bruno des Chartreux

   église Saint-Bruno des Chartreux

   The only Baroque church in Lyon. The interior is magnificent, especially the altar (by Servandoni, modified by Soufflot, 18th century) and the canopy (by Servandoni).

   Mon-Sat 15:00-17:00·Free

3. See

   Fourvière basilica

   Built in 1872 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, patron saint of Lyon, this massive church made of white marble has been compared to an elephant with its feet up. It is a typical example of the 19th century "eclectic" style, with architectural elements recalling antique, classical and Gothic eras. The Byzantine-style interior decoration is extremely exuberant, too much so for some people. Tours of the roof and bell towers are available in the afternoons for €6.

   10:00-17:00. Masses: Mon-Sat 07:15, 09:30, 11:00, 17:00; Sun 07:30, 09:30, 11:00, 17:00·Free admission

4. See

   Jardin Rosa Mir

   This amazing garden was built by a Spanish refugee, Jules Senis, and dedicated to his mother. Senis had cancer and had made the vow of building this garden if he ever came out of the hospital; fortunately, he did. The garden is a fine mixture of mineral and vegetal elements, in a style influenced by Gaudi's works in Barcelona.

   1 Apr-30 Nov, Sat 15:00-18:00·Free

5. See

   Parc de la Tête d'or

   Completed in 1862, this English-style garden is one of the largest and arguably one of the most beautiful urban parks in France. It is a popular place for families as well as joggers. The highlights of the park include the large greenhouses, the botanical garden, the rose garden and the "African plain" in which animals wander in a natural-style environment, perfect for children.

   15 Oct–14 Apr: 06:30–20:30, 15 Apr–14 Oct: 06:30–22:30·free of charge

6. See

   Roman theatres

   These two well-preserved theatres are the most important remnant of the Roman city of Lugdunum. The Gallo-Roman museum was built next to them. The summer festival "Nuits de Fourvière" takes place here every year, which may cause access restrictions in the evening from June to early August.

   Free

7. See

   St Irénée church

   The oldest church in Lyon, and one of the oldest in France. The site is built on a Gallo-Roman necropolis which was in use for centuries, until the Middle Ages. Some sarcophagi from the 5th or 6th century are visible in the courtyard. The crypt dates back to the 9th century and was renovated in the 19th century. Early Christian remains (from the 4th-6th centuries) are kept inside. The church was rebuilt in the 19th century in a neo-classical style with a Byzantine influence. An arch from the 5th century remains. Behind the church, the calvary built in 1687 is also a great viewpoint.

   Church 08:30-18:00 daily, crypt Sat 14:30-17:00, closed in Aug·Free

8. See

   St Jean Cathedral

   The cathedral is dedicated to St John the Baptist (St Jean-Baptiste) and St Stephen (St Etienne) and has the title of primatiale because the Bishop of Lyon has the honorary title of Primat des Gaules. Built between 1180 and 1480, it is mostly of Gothic style with Romanesque elements; the oldest parts are the chancel and the lateral chapels, and as one goes towards the façade, the style becomes more and more Gothic. The cathedral hosts a spectacular astronomical clock built in the 14th century but modified later. It is especially worth seeing when the bells ring, daily on the hour from 12:00-16:00. Over the main door, the rose window, known as the "Lamb rose window", is an admirable work of art depicting the life of St Stephen and St John the Baptist.

   Mon-Fri 08:15-12:00, 13:45-19:30, Sat Sun 08:15-12:00, 13:45-19:00; services (no visits) Mon-Fri 09:00 and 19:00, Sat 09:00, Sun 08:30 and 10:30 (high mass)·Free, appropriate dress required

9. See

   St Jean archaeological garden

   Jardin archéologique

   Next to St Jean cathedral (on the northern side), this small garden shows the remains of the religious buildings which occupied the site before the cathedral was erected. The oldest remains date back to the 4th century (baptistery of the former St Etienne church).

   Free

10. See Not mapped

    Renaissance courtyards

    Besides the buildings cited above, some have very beautiful courtyards but no real traboules (that is to say, no crossing from one street to another). The most outstanding are: Maison du Chamarier (37 rue St Jean) and Maison du Crible (16 rue du Boeuf), in which stands the famous "Pink Tower".

    Closed at night·Free

11. See Not mapped

    Traboules

    The traboules are a typical architectural feature of Lyon's historical buildings. They are corridors which link two streets through a building, and usually a courtyard. Many traboules are unique architectural masterpieces, largely influenced by Italy and especially Florence. Some of them are officially open to the public. They link the following addresses: - 54 rue St Jean <> 27 rue du Boeuf (the longest in Lyon) - 27 rue St Jean <> 6 rue des Trois Maries - 2 place du Gouvernement <> quai Romain Rolland. To open the doors, just press the service button next to the door code keyboard. If you are unable to enter from one side, try the opposite entrance. In the morning, many other doors are open for service (mail, garbage collecting), so more traboules are accessible. There are traboules in almost all buildings between Quai Romain Rolland and Rue St Jean/Rue des Trois Maries, and others between Rue St Jean and Rue du Boeuf.

    Closed at night·Free

12. See

    Lyon Zoo

    Jardin zoologique de Lyon

    Nov–Mar: 09:00–17:00 daily; Apr–Oct: 09:00–18:00 daily; May–Sep: 09:00–18:30 daily·free of charge

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Lyon (CC BY-SA 4.0).