Place des Terreaux & Hôtel de Ville
Place des Terreaux
The central square at the northern tip of the Presqu'île, framed by the 17th-century town hall, a Bartholdi fountain and an art museum. It is especially beautiful at night.
Place des Terreaux lies at the northern end of the Presqu'île. On its east side stands the Lyon town hall, built between 1646 and 1672, with a richly decorated facade. It is part of the core zone of the World Heritage site. To the north is a fountain by Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, whose four galloping horses symbolize rivers flowing to the sea. The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon stands on the south side. The 69 water jets set into the square were designed by Daniel Buren. In the evening, the illuminated buildings make this the main venue of the Fête des Lumières festival of lights. The Lyon Opera House is a few steps to the east, and to the north you can climb the slope of Croix-Rousse. The square is served by metro lines A and C at Hôtel de Ville station.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon
- Church of Saint-Nizier
- La Croix-Rousse & Traboules
- Rue Mercière
- Fresque des Lyonnais
- Musée Gadagne
- Musée Miniature et Cinéma
- Vieux Lyon