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Square · Lyon, Auvérnia-Ródano-Alpes
Place des Terreaux
Square in the north of the Presqu'île with the 17th-century Hôtel de Ville, the Bartholdi fountain and the Musée des Beaux-Arts.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Place des Terreaux
The Place des Terreaux is located in the north of the Presqu'île, at the foot of the Croix-Rousse slopes. It is flanked by two important buildings: the Hôtel de Ville, the city hall, on the east side, and the Palais Saint-Pierre, which houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts, on the south side.
The Hôtel de Ville was built in the 17th century and has a monumental façade with a clock and an equestrian statue of Henry IV. It is a listed historic monument and still houses the city council. On the other side, in the Place de la Comédie, is the Opéra de Lyon, with a modern glass dome over the 19th-century building.
On the north side of the square is Bartholdi's fountain, by the same sculptor as the Statue of Liberty in New York. It shows a chariot pulled by four horses emerging from the water.
The square is a meeting point with cafés around the edges and became known as one of the main stages of the Fête des Lumières, when the façades receive projections.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 30 minutes, or longer if you include the Musée des Beaux-Arts.
Best time
In the late afternoon and at night, when the façades are lit. The interior of the Hôtel de Ville usually opens only for guided visits on specific dates: check before you go.
How to get there
Hôtel de Ville – Louis Pradel metro station (lines A and C). From Place Bellecour it's about a 15-minute walk along the rue de la République.
Tip
Combine the square with the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Fresque des Lyonnais, about a 5-minute walk on the banks of the Saona. From here the climbs up the slopes of the Croix-Rousse begin.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Place des Terreaux
Can you visit the Hôtel de Ville de Lyon?
The building houses the city hall and the interior is usually only open on guided tours on specific dates, such as Heritage Days in September. Check before going.
Who made the fountain at the Place des Terreaux?
Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty in New York.
What is near the Place des Terreaux?
The Musée des Beaux-Arts, on the square itself, the Opéra de Lyon, the Fresque des Lyonnais and the slopes of the Croix-Rousse.