Place Bellecour (Bellecour Square), Lyon

Place Bellecour (Bellecour Square), Lyon

Place Bellecour is the third largest square in France, the largest square in Europe that is entirely pedestrian, and the focal centre of Lyon.

In Gallo-Roman times it was an island made of earth and sand left by flood water, and was used for military and commercial purposes. In the 12th century, the Archbishop of Lyon had a vineyard here, for “medicinal purposes”. After being abandoned, the area became a swamp.

In 1562, Baron des Adrets used it to station his troops during his attack on the city. Eventually, the area dried up and became a pastureland. In 1604, King Henry III ordered the city to create a public square in this place, but for some reason the current archbishop was against the idea and the resulting legal wrangle between the monarchy and the clergy went on for another 100+ years.

Finally, in 1708 King Louis XIV won the day and the resulting square opened in 1715, called Louis-le-Grand. During the French Revolution, it was the place of a guillotine.

In the centre of the square, there is an equestrian statue of Louis XIV by Lemor installed in 1825 to replace an earlier statue destroyed in 1793. At the foot of the statue there are two allegorical figures representing the Saône and the Rhône rivers. At the west end of the square are the statues of Antoine de Saint Exupery and the Little Prince.

There are two pavilions on the square, one housing the Tourist Office and the other an art gallery. There is a small play area for children, a fountain and two bars. On several occasions, a huge Ferris wheel is set up here too.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Lyon. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Place Bellecour (Bellecour Square) on Map

Sight Name: Place Bellecour (Bellecour Square)
Sight Location: Lyon, France (See walking tours in Lyon)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Lyon, France

Create Your Own Walk in Lyon

Create Your Own Walk in Lyon

Creating your own self-guided walk in Lyon is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Lyon's Architectural Landmarks

Lyon's Architectural Landmarks

Founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC, the charming French city of Lyon has played a major role in the political, cultural, and economic development of Europe for many years. The city's two millennia-long history is clearly imprinted in its urban fabric, manifested in numerous buildings of various epochs and styles.

Among the plethora of local architectural landmarks, the Ancient...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles
Lyon Introduction Walking Tour

Lyon Introduction Walking Tour

The city of Lyon – capital of France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region – has been around for 2,000 years, sitting at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Established in 43 BC as a settlement for Roman refugees of war, it was also the capital of the Gauls at the time of the Roman Empire; two Emperors – Claudius and Caracalla – were born here. Due to its foundation on the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Food Tour in Lyon

Food Tour in Lyon

In addition to its architectural beauty, Lyon – often referred to as the gastronomic capital of France – boasts a vibrant culinary scene that will delight passionate foodies. An ideal place to discover French cuisine and fall in love with it, there is no shortage of addresses in Lyon to stock up on quality and delicious products.

At the heart of Lyon's culinary culture is the Paul...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


Gastronomic Delights: 10 Places to Buy Great Food in Lyon, France

Gastronomic Delights: 10 Places to Buy Great Food in Lyon, France

The city of Lyon is famous for its contribution to the culinary arts. Here food lovers will find hundreds of specialty shops throughout the city offering some of the world's finest and award-winning products fit to delight any epicurean palate. Let your taste buds lead you on this voyage into...