Lyon Things to Do – Attractions & Must See

Lyon Things to Do

Lyon, France is a famous historical city with active cultural influences. This spirited city is a great place for a vacation with lots of beautiful sites and ancient architecture to view.

La Basilique de Notre-Dame de Fourvière

In Lyon, one of the most spiritual places to visit is La Basilique de Notre-Dame de Fourvière (The Basilica Notre-Dame of Fourvière). It has a unique cultural atmosphere and is a site where many go to for spiritual awareness. The church was built in 1872 on top of Fourvière, a hill where the locals would go to pray. It was constructed as a tribute to Virgin Mary. It was believed that she contributed to saving Lyon from the bubonic plague and the Cholera epidemic during the 1600’s and 1800’s. Because the basilica sits atop of the hill, you can see the entire city of Lyon from the church.

Hidden Passageways

Traboules are secret passageways in Lyon used by merchants and sellers to transport goods throughout the city. The doors to the traboules are found along old buildings that lead to beautifully crafted courtyards, spiral stairways, and balconies. Many of the traboules are marked with signs next to the door. The buildings are currently occupied by residents, but you will be able to walk through the courtyards during the day.

Place Bellecour

Place Bellecour is a huge square in the middle on Lyon. It is the largest square in Europe without greenery and is the third largest in France. In the center of the Place Bellecour sits the statue of King Louis XIV. Several events take place in the square throughout the year, including a Ferris wheel, concerts, and ice-skating in the winter.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Lyon, France.