Located on Place St-Louis at the foot of Fourvière Hill this beautiful structure is a superb blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture and no wonder as building commenced in 1180 but was not completed till 1480!

For many visitors the main attraction is the amazing astronomical clock in the north transept. This is one of the oldest clocks in the world and dates from at least 1383 which was of course a time when everyone believed that the Earth was the centre of the Universe. It was destroyed during the Wars of Religion, restored in 1661 only to be stripped of any reference to Royalty during the French Revolution.

At 9m/29.5ft tall, topped off with an octagon which houses several interesting automatons including the Virgin Mary, the Archangel Gabriel and the Holy Spirit it chimes every day at 12.00, 14.00, 15.00 and 16.00.

Practical Info

St-Jean-Baptiste Cathedral Place Saint-Jean, 69005 Lyon France