Visit Vieux Lyon (Old Town)

Close to this 4-star hotel, the Vieux Lyon is one of the only quarters in Europe to have kept the splendor and cultural treasures of the past. This historic quarter of Lyon is brimming with restaurants and bars that give you a taste of the rich traditions of Lyonnais cuisine. Vieux Lyon has been designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site and is an amazing labyrinth of narrow streets, Gothic architecture and secret passages around the three main monuments of this religious culture: The impressive Cathedrale Saint-Jean (Saint-Jean Cathedral), the Eglise Medievale de Saint-Paul (Medieval Church of Saint-Paul) and the magnificent Eglise de Saint-Georges (Church of Saint-George)

Cultural and architectural heritage

The Hotel de Gadagne (Gadagne Hotel) is a museum which has been classified as a historical monument and is located right in the heart of Vieux Lyon. Close to the Hotel de Gadagne, you can also visit the Loge du Change which was formerly a stock exchange and is now a religious temple. You can’t cross Lyon without visiting the famous Sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere (Our Mother of Fourviere Basilica).
Transformed into the Musee de la Miniature (Museum of Miniatures), the Maison des Avocats (16th century building housing the museum) is a fine example of Renaissance architecture in the Saint-Jean de Lyon quarter. Finally, the former Episcopal palace of Palais de Saint-Jean now holds the 5th arrondissement (district) library with its large and airy rooms.

» Visit Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) – Walking Circuits and Trails

The painted walls of Lyon

The painted wall of «Canut» (nickname for silk weavers), the Lyonnais Murals and the Rue des Grands Chefs, (Road of Grand Chefs) are just a few of examples of this innovative art depicting Lyon street scenes and painted on the walls of the city. With their brilliant colors and optical illusions, the “painted walls” have been part of the Lyonnais architectural landscape for more than 20 years.