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Palais de Justice

The historical court house, also named "the 24 columns", was built between 1835 and 1842 by architect Louis-Pierre Baltard. It is a fine example of French "neo-classical" architecture. It now hosts only the criminal court (Cour d'Assises) and the court of appeal. The other jurisdictions moved to a new building in Part-Dieu in 1995. The most famous trial held there was that of the former head of the Lyon Gestapo, Klaus Barbie, in 1987. The building is undergoing major refurbishment works.

history

Address: Quai Romain Rolland
Getting there: M: Vieux Lyon

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Lyon, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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Musée Miniature et Cinéma
Miniature and Movie Museum
Created by artist Dan Ohlmann, this private gallery shows about 120 miniature models of all kinds of scenes: houses, restaurants, workshops, schools, etc., from Lyon or elsewhere, historical or contemporary. The accuracy of the models is astonishing and some sections will be real fun for children. Movie sceneries, models, costumes, masks and props are also presented, including a wand from the Harry Potter films and the Alien Queen from Alien vs. Predator. The gallery is in a large 16th-century building called Maison des Avocats (Lawyers' house).
Daily 10:00-18:30 (ticket sales close at 17:30)€9.50, senior €8, student €7, under 15 €6.50
Eat
Boulangerie du Palais
In this small bakery, you will find good praline tarts, a popular local dessert.
Buy
Pralus
Chocolatier famed for inventing the Praluline, a decadent, buttery brioche generously studded with pink pralines. There's almost always a line outside, but it moves fast. Even the "petite" (€6.60) serves four. Pralus has other outlets but the Vieux-Lyon branch is the only one open every day.
Daily 8:30-19:00
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