The Place Saint-Paul centers on a small, triangular square tucked against the base of the Fourvière hill. Its defining feature is the pale, Romanesque clock tower of the Église Saint-Paul, which has watched over this corner since the…
Mystical Legends of Vieux Lyon
This walk through the cobblestone streets of old Lyon delves into the haunting Renaissance legends of alchemists, public executions, and local folklore.
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1. Place Saint-Paul
2. Église Saint-Paul - Chapelle Sainte-Marguerite
The Eglise Saint-Paul sits in a dense pocket of the old city, anchored by a prominent octagonal lantern tower that rises above the surrounding tile roofs. This building dates back to the middle of the tenth century, serving for generations…
3. Rue Juiverie
Rue Juiverie features tall, Renaissance-era facades that lean inward, nearly touching at the top. During the sixteenth century, this narrow corridor served as the center of Lyon's Jewish community. Wealthy bankers like the Italian merchant…
4. Maison Thomassin
The Maison Thomassin stands out with its facade of exposed stone and a distinctive double-arched gothic window that marks it as the oldest private residence in Lyon. Built around thirteen hundred, this house served as the seat for the…
5. Eklectic - Librairie Cadence
A storefront with a vibrant, hand-painted sign and books spilling into the street defines Librairie Cadence. This corner of Saint-Jean serves as a refuge for music lovers and readers alike, focusing specifically on jazz and blues…
6. Maison Du Chamarier
The Maison du Chamarier features a distinctive octagonal turret that houses a spiral stone staircase rising above the courtyard. Built in the late fifteenth century for the official who managed the finances of the Archbishop of Lyon, the…
7. Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste
The Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste anchors the Old Town with a facade dominated by three massive, recessed portals filled with hundreds of small stone medallions. Construction dragged on for three centuries, beginning in the late twelfth…