Monuments to visit Lyon 69000

Everyone knows its name. Famous for its basilica, but also for its Roman theatres. From its 300 m high, it dominates the Saône-Rhone confluence. A strategic location which therefore explains that, on the orders of the Roman senate, Munatius Plancus established a colony there. Palaces and various buildings were built around the forum, Lugdunum was born; the emperors often stay there and christianity settled there.

The fall of the Roman Empire has caused change in spaces's occupation, the inhabitants have settled in the valley, along the Saône and the slopes cover vineyard and farmings. A basilica was built on the hill of Saint-Just and religious congregations settle. Fourvière became "the hill where people pray". To reach the hill, there are several possibilities: to climb in the "thread" (the funicular) to the metro station "Old Lyon" or to visit the various montées: the montée des Epies in the southern part, leaving the church Saint-Georges, joins the montée Gourguillon which was the only entrance in Lyon in the east and ends in the Saint-Just district; the montée Chemin-Neuf, that of Chazeaux, that of Change. You can also rush into the montée Saint-Barthélemy which is one of the oldest roads linking the city to the hill; the bravest will prefer to climb the 244 steps of the montée Garillan.

Because very few Lyon inhabitants know the true story of this tower, a must-visit in the landscape, Futé is proud to present it like a curiosity in this guide. This Lyon Eiffel Tower, making passing Parisians laugh, was opened to public on 3rd May, 1894. Its construction was decided by a group of craftsmen supported by the city, opposite to Fourvière, to... put the Basilica in a republican shade! Indeed, since its construction, Fourvière is not the highest point in Lyon anymore and it is this republican tower that dominates the city at an altitude of 372 m. Formerly, it hosted a restaurant and a belfry from where people could enjoy the view. The tower is sold in 1953 to the ORTF, in order to not demolish it. Since then inaccessible to the public, it supports now transmitters and continue on scoffing at Fourvière.