must-visit in LyonSquare & Landmark
La place Bellecour
📍 La place Bellecour, Lyon, France
4.5/ 5.0
★★★★★
Introduction
The red-ochre heart of Lyon's Presqu'île stretches about 312 by 200 metres, among Europe's largest pedestrian squares. An equestrian Louis XIV, cast in 1825, anchors the centre, while the southwest corner carries Antoine de Saint-Exupéry with his Little Prince - Lyon was the author's birthplace. Almost bare of greenery, the emptiness itself becomes the stage: skateboarders, carousels and markets take turns across the paving. Walk west for a few minutes and you reach the Saône and Vieux Lyon.
✨ Highlights
1
European Scale
Some 312 by 200 metres of open paving, among the continent's grandest pedestrian squares.
2
Louis XIV on Horseback
The 1825 bronze equestrian statue holds the square's exact centre.
3
Little Prince
Lyon-born Saint-Exupéry stands beside his most famous creation.
4
Presqu'île Hub
The geographic midpoint between two rivers and the start of the main shopping streets.
5
Gateway to Old Lyon
A few minutes west, a bridge crosses the Saône to Vieux Lyon and Fourvière.
🛈 Practical Info
→Cost：The square is free, and the tourist office here hands out maps and brochures.
→Getting there：Metro Lines A and D stop at Bellecour, as do many bus routes.
→Timing：Morning for tourist-office intel; evening for lights and street life.
→Shopping：Rue de la République runs north-south as the main pedestrian shopping axis.
→Festivals：At Christmas and during the Fête des Lumières, the square is the main venue - expect crowds.
💡 Tips
• For Fourvière, cross the bridge west of the square and take the funicular - it saves half an hour.
• At Christmas the market huts pack the square's north side, liveliest and most crowded at dusk.
• No shade at all out there - hat and water matter if crossing at midday in summer.
• The Little Prince statue is the classic Lyon portrait stop; mornings mean no queue.
• Bellecour station has many exits; follow signs toward Vieux Lyon for the quickest river crossing.
FAQ
Any practical tips for visiting La place Bellecour?
For Fourvière, cross the bridge west of the square and take the funicular - it saves half an hour. At Christmas the market huts pack the square's north side, liveliest and most crowded at dusk.
Information on this page is compiled from public sources. Opening hours, ticket prices and other details may change — please verify with official sources before your visit.
