PLACE BELLECOUR
Lyon's kilometre 0, the heart of the city, France's third-largest square and Europe's largest pedestrian square.
Situated between the Saône and Rhône rivers, Place Bellecour is Lyon's 0 kilometre point, the nerve center of the Presqu'île and the place of superlatives. The third-largest square in France, behind the Concorde in Paris and the Quinquonces in Bordeaux, it also holds the title of Europe's largest pedestrian square. The square's history dates back to antiquity, when it was occupied by merchants' warehouses. The debris of amphorae and tiles buried underground makes the ground difficult to dig up and build on. However, a vine called bella curtis (beautiful garden) could be grown here as early as the 12th century. Bought by the town in 1604, this land, known as La Belle Cour, became a place for strolling. It was also a place of arms on which the Consulate decided to erect an equestrian statue of Louis XIV. It wasn't until 1871 that the square was renamed Bellecour. Numerous buildings with antique-style facades and a few curiosities, such as this Stone Watcher (corner rue Gasparin), a memorial to the French Resistance. Another statue, at the south-west corner of the square, is that of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, aviator and writer originally from Lyon. Place Bellecour, a popular meeting place for people leaving the metro, has been restored to its original lime trees, with improved kiosks and the indispensable tourist office pavilion. Events: Ferris wheel in winter, boule lyonnaise competition, illuminations, events. The heart of the city.
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