From the Parc des Hauteurs to Vieux Lyon

Park in the free car park at the entrance to the Parc des Hauteurs, near Loyasse Cemetery.

(S/E) Walk along the right-hand side of the Terrain de Sports de la Sarra. Head towards the entrance gate to the Parc des Hauteurs.

(1) Walk past it; you’ll see an adventure park on your left and the Sarra trail on your right. Continue straight ahead into the woods, walk past the psychiatric hospital, then head for the Pont des Quatre Vents.

(2) Carry on to reach the second gate of the Parc des Hauteurs.
Take a moment here to read the information board explaining the history of the path you have been following since the bridge.
Carry on until you reach the esplanade of the Basilica of Fourvière.

(3) Head downhill, turning left into the Jardin du Rosaire, and take the opportunity to have a stroll around.
As you leave the garden, head down to the left to reach the heart of the Saint-Jean district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Saint-Jean is Lyon’s historic district, known as Lugdunum. Stroll along Rue Saint-Jean and the adjacent side streets, admiring the façades in the purest Italian Renaissance style.
On your way back, head towards Saint-Jean Cathedral, which is well worth a visit.

(4) Then take a leisurely stroll back up the Montée du Chemin Neuf.
Enjoy the views of Lyon offered by this climb. Make your way to the Gallo-Roman Theatre of Les Minimes.

(5) Then turn right onto Rue de l’Antiquaille. Head back to the Jardin du Rosaire. Complete the climb to reach the esplanade of the Basilica of Fourvière.

(3) Follow the same route as on the way there to return to the Parc des Hauteurs car park (S/E).

This walk is not at all difficult. There’s a bit of an incline, but nothing out of the ordinary.
On the Fourvière esplanade and in Vieux Lyon, you’ll find plenty of places to quench your thirst and grab a bite to eat.

(1) Piste de la Sarra: today it’s a downhill mountain bike trail. Until the 1980s, it was a downhill ski run, right in the city centre.

(2) Pont des Quatre Vents: depending on the weather, you’ll see why it’s called that. From here, enjoy the view to the left over the meandering Saône as it enters Lyon from the north. Opposite, you’ll see the hill of La Croix Rousse. The bridge also offers a view over the parks and gardens of the religious establishments at Fourvière.

(3) Fourvière Basilica: take the time to visit here and, depending on the season, you may even be able to enjoy an aerial tour, walking along the rooftops and towers of the Basilica.
Between (3) and (4), the Saint-Jean district: if a building’s entrance is open, step inside and take a look at the staircases, which are often spectacular. You may well come across a traboule or two here. Traboules are these passageways through buildings that allow you to get from one street to another. They proved invaluable to the people of Lyon during the German occupation.
This is a walk designed for exploration, so depending on how much time you have, do consider visiting:
- the Basilica of Fourvière,
- the traboules of Vieux Lyon,
- Saint-Jean Cathedral,
- the Gallo-Roman theatre and museum.

And don’t miss the views, especially on the way up.