The sights of Lyon are no less interesting than the cultural sites of Paris, Provence or Nice. But many tourists underestimate this metropolis. Lyon ranks third in France in terms of population. In Lyon, attention is attracted not only by architectural buildings. Here, the view is mesmerizing and incomparable beauty of natural landscapes. No other city in France can be compared with Lyon, because here every centimeter of the square is saturated with historical spirit. A distinctive feature of the metropolis can be called trawls. These are narrow galleries among several houses. Well, each of the attractions deserves special attention. We will tell about the most popular and famous objects.
Lyon symbol
One of the symbols of this French city is called the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere. Many sights of Lyon deserve the honor of being called its symbols, but it was the Basilica that became the most famous among them. Notre Dame de Fourviere is located on Mount Fourviere. The snow-white building is surrounded by ancient theaters, the building is decorated with filigree stucco and turrets. The basilica was erected at the end of the century before last.
The sights of Lyon are grandiose structures. And the Basilica was no exception. Therefore, some tourists and residents call it too pretentious, festive and rich. But other people, on the contrary, say that it is tasteless. This object combines the features of classical, neo-Gothic and non-Byzantine architectural styles. Today, the building is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The most beautiful square in the city
Lyon, whose sights are so multifaceted, cannot be described without remembering the Place de Terro. This is the most magnificent square in the metropolis. It is located in front of the house, which houses the Lyon City Hall and the Museum of Fine Arts. At the very beginning of its existence, Terro was a market square and was in the possession of the monastery. But in the XVI century the object passed into the possession of the city.
For several centuries, the square has experienced numerous events. Lyon (sights) and Terro, in particular, saw the execution of Pastor Monnier and the Marquis of Saint-Mars. Countless rebellions were organized in the same square. And here a unique phenomenon was captured: after the moon rose, the sky shone, a star flew in it, behind which the army of horsemen passed.
Today, Terro Square no longer executes people, but at any time of the day or night it is crowded. There are two famous monuments here - St. Peter's Palace and the City Hall. The area is always beautiful, many travelers tend to visit it.
The most important museum of the country
The sights of Lyon can "boast" and the presence of various museums on their list. The most popular among them is the Lyon Museum of Fine Arts, or the Museum of Fine Arts. It was opened at the beginning of the 19th century and is located in the building in which the Benedictine monastery was once located. After the opening, the main part of the museum's exhibit was made up of values that were confiscated from the aristocrats after the revolution. But gradually the museum fund was replenished with other exhibits, which today are located on three floors of the building.
After the Louvre Museum of Fine Arts is the second largest in its collection. So, two thousand paintings are saved here. But you can only see 700 of them. The sculpture gallery has more than 1300 different exhibits. A separate department of the institution is dedicated to ancient Egyptian art. There is also a department of arts and crafts.
If you like movies
The city of Lyon, whose sights we are considering, is the birthplace of the world famous Lumiere brothers. Therefore, there is also a cultural object that has some relation to these persons. This is a Museum of miniatures and movie sets. The creator of the museum was Dan Allman. For many years he traveled around the world and collected filming props and exhibits.
Five miniatures of Olman and more than 120 various filming exhibits are located on five floors of the institution. Here are the jacket, weapons and the head of the Terminator, cold aliens from the painting "People in Black" and many other items.
One day for sightseeing
If your stay in a city called Lyon is limited, the sights in one day you can visit the following:
- Gallo Roman Amphitheater. The facility was built during the reign of Emperor Tiberius.
- The metal tower of Fourviere. The height of the attraction reaches 84 meters, and the weight exceeds 200 tons.
- Aquarium located a few meters from the city. It houses a unique collection of marine animals and fish.
- Bartholdi Fountain. It is located on Terro Square, and its creator was the sculptor Frederico Bartholdi, the one who created the Statue of Liberty in New York.
It is these structures in one day that every tourist will have time to inspect.
Back to Lyon again
Lyon (France, attractions) reviews from travelers gets simply magical. Although tourists often pass this city by the side, those who have been here are delighted, there is no limit to their admiration. All people who visited the metropolis unanimously say that this is an incredibly beautiful place. The sights located at every step make your heart sank with delight.
Many travelers return to Lyon more than once, since they did not manage to see all its charms until the end. And even if they saw everything, they say that with a second examination, new impressions appear.