Place des Terreaux

Place des Terreaux is a principal public square in Lyon’s Presqu’île district, flanked by the Hôtel de Ville and the Musée des Beaux-Arts. The square is an important civic and cultural focal point in Lyon and features notable public sculpture and fountains.

Architectural highlights include the ornate city hall façade and the museum building, and the square contains the large Bartholdi fountain with sculptural groupings. It is frequently used for festivals, concerts, and public events.

The square developed around municipal institutions from the 17th century onward and saw significant 19th-century remodeling that added the current formal fountain and public space layout. Its present appearance reflects successive urban projects tied to civic representation.

Located on the Presqu’île between the Saône and Rhône rivers, Place des Terreaux sits in central Lyon within walking distance of major shopping streets and other heritage districts.

• Best time for photos: The square is best visited in the early morning or late evening for photos to avoid daytime crowds and to capture the façades of the Hôtel de Ville and the Musée des Beaux-Arts.

What to See #

• Hôtel de Ville (Lyon City Hall): A large 17th-century city hall that faces the square, notable for its ornate Baroque façade and central role in municipal ceremonies.
• Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon: A major fine-arts museum housed in a former Benedictine abbey on the square, one of France's largest regional museums with extensive paintings and decorative arts collections.
• Bartholdi fountain: A monumental fountain by Frédéric Bartholdi featuring sculpted figures, installed in the 19th century and occupying a central position in the square.