Discover Lyon: Cultural Heritage and Green Spaces

Lyon offers several distinct themes to consider when planning a stay: large green spaces, historic architecture, Roman theatres and culinary tradition. If you’re looking for a hotel in Lyon, it helps to first think about what you want your days to focus on—walks and open spaces, architectural history, cultural events or the city’s cuisine. This lets you choose activities based on your personal interests rather than treating every attraction as equally important.

Green Spaces and the Banks of the Rhône

Parc de la Tête d’Or covers 105 hectares. Lyon Botanical Garden is home to plant collections across 8 hectares. These two figures represent different priorities: the Parc is an expansive green space, while the botanical garden focuses on its plant collections. If you’re planning to spend time outdoors, you can consider whether a large park or the botanical theme matters more to you.

Almost five kilometres of Rhône riverbanks offer space for walks and urban leisure activities. Alongside the green spaces, the riverbank provides another distinct point of interest. This difference can help with planning: parks, plant collections and riverside areas offer different ways to spend time outdoors.

Culture Between Architecture and History

Gadagne is housed in a Renaissance building designated a historic monument, with a large courtyard and hanging gardens. Its architectural features connect its historic designation with specific elements of the building, setting it apart from the views and interior of the Basilica of Fourvière.

The Basilica of Fourvière overlooks all of Lyon; its interior is richly decorated with mosaics, stained glass and marble. Here, views over the city combine with the design of the interior. Compared with Gadagne, the focus shifts from a Renaissance building with a courtyard and hanging gardens to panoramic city views and decorative interiors.

Since 1964, Vieux Lyon has been France’s first protected area for historic urban districts. This means that, alongside individual buildings, the protection of an urban area is also among Lyon’s historic points of interest. This is a different way of looking at cultural heritage than focusing on the design of a single house or basilica.

The Canut Fresco adds another visual highlight: it covers a 1,200 m² windowless façade and is considered Europe’s largest painted mural. Unlike Renaissance architecture, interior decoration and heritage protection, the focus here is on a large-scale mural. Lyon’s cultural attractions thus range from historic buildings and urban districts to monumental art.

Roman Theatres and Events

At the Roman Theatres of Lugdunum, an archaeological site and cultural venue come together. The two buildings host concerts, festivals, guided tours and other events. The Grand Theatre of Lugdunum is considered the oldest theatre in France. The Roman Theatres can be visited year-round, free of charge; practical visitor information may change, so check the latest details before your visit. When planning, it’s worth treating sightseeing, guided tours and events as distinct options: the theatres are notable both for their historical significance and for their cultural programme.

Culinary Tradition

Lyon’s cuisine can also be a focus of your trip planning. The “Bouchon Lyonnais” label is intended to ensure an authentic, high-quality culinary experience at traditional Lyon restaurants. It’s a specific point of reference if you’re interested in the city’s traditional restaurant culture.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Lancié, Limonest, Les Sauvages, Feyzin, Marcilly-D'azergues, Saint-Loup, Saint-Georges-De-Reneins, Saint-Nizier-D'azergues

Return to the broader travel overview: Rhône.