From Île Barbe to Bellecour

(S/E) When you get off the bus (if you have taken this form of transport), head left (north) to cross the Pont de l’Île Barbe.

(1) At the island, head down to the left, go in a circular fashion under the bridge to explore the island’s two cul-de-sacs.
It’s a different world… you wouldn’t believe you were in the suburbs of Lyon.

(1) Leave the island by taking either the same path or the steps to the left of the bridge. In both cases, you’ll return to the left bank of the Saône where you started.

As you leave the bridge, turn left (towards the north-east) to take the stairs leading down to the left onto the riverside path. When you reach the river, turn left.
Now, it’s “straight ahead”! There’s no chance of going wrong... on the right is the Saône, on the left you head back up to the road.

(2) You pass below Les Subs.

(3) Pass the Wall of Famous Lyonnais, continuing along the riverbank.

(4) Pass the “double ramp” (sign on the left) whilst staying on the riverbank.

(5) Just after the Pont Bonaparte, and before the third footbridge (Passerelle de l’Église Saint-Georges), head up onto Quai Tilsit and follow it to the right (still heading south).

Continue along the Saône until you reach Rue Bourgelat on the left. This leads to the charming Romanesque church: the Basilica of Saint-Martin d’Ainay.

(6) Take the time to visit it. Its simplicity contrasts with the splendour of Saint-Jean Cathedral and Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

Then, continue along Rue Bourgelat until you reach Place Ampère (his statue stands in the centre).
Turn left onto the bustling Rue Victor Hugo (steal your partner’s credit card...). This takes you back to Place Bellecour (E).

The walk starts at Île Barbe and ends at Place Bellecour.

To get from Place Bellecour to the Île Barbe departure point, you can take TCL bus no. 40 towards Neuville.
The bus stop is at Place Bellecour-Le Viste, on the east side of the square, not far from a Metro exit.

Get off at the “Île Barbe” stop. The journey takes 15 minutes. There is a bus approximately every 20 minutes on weekdays or every 45 minutes on Sundays (detailed timetables are available online on the TCL website).
Cost of a bus/Metro ticket = €2, on the bus, in January 2017.

It goes without saying thatif the Saône is in flood, this walk is not feasible and is even discouraged.

The picturesque Île Barbe.
The Sub (National School of Fine Arts) halfway along the route.
The murals depicting famous Lyonnais and Lyon-based writers.
Place des Terreaux andthe Town Hall
Saint-Jean Cathedral.
The Hôtel Dieu, currently undergoing renovation.
The charming Basilica of Saint-Martin d'Ainay.
Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

Extension: as the walk is short, you can extend it by heading up to Fourvière Hill. You’ll enjoy a magnificent view of Lyon from the esplanade and can visit the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

You can take the funicular, which departs opposite Saint-Jean Cathedral (1 TCL ticket), and walk back down, crossing the lovely Bois du Rosaire garden below the cathedral, starting from the north of the esplanade; then, upon leaving the garden, head opposite and descend the stairs (over 200 steps...) to reach Saint-Jean Cathedral, and finally, on the other side of the Saône, Place Bellecour.