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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.

Address: 51 rue des Macchabées
Getting there: F: St Just
Hours: Church 08:30-18:00 daily, crypt Sat 14:30-17:00, closed in Aug
Price: Free
Website: lyon-st-irenee.org (opens in a new tab)

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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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