Lyon Cathedral

Lyon Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste) is the Roman Catholic cathedral in Lyon, France, built principally between the 12th and 15th centuries and serving as the seat of the Archbishop of Lyon. The building combines Romanesque and Gothic elements.

The cathedral occupies a prominent position in Vieux Lyon and is noted for its soaring interior, historic choir and a complex medieval astronomical clock that remains an attraction. The adjacent medieval streets and traboules make the surrounding area one of Lyon’s major historic quarters.

Construction spanned several centuries from the 12th century onward, resulting in a blend of architectural styles as successive building campaigns altered the structure. It has been the site of important diocesan ceremonies through Lyon’s history.

The cathedral stands on Place Saint-Jean in Lyon’s Old Town (Vieux Lyon), on the west bank of the Saône River and within the city’s medieval street network.

• Architecture: The choir and western façade present a mixture of Romanesque massing and later Gothic verticality, reflecting the building phases between the 12th and 15th centuries.

What to See #

• Astronomical clock: A large mechanical and astronomical clock located within the cathedral that attracts visitors for its complex historic mechanism and hourly chimes.