Place Bellevue: a balcony over Lyon on the Croix-Rousse slopes
Its name does not lie: Place Bellevue, perched on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse in Lyon's 1st arrondissement, offers a viewpoint that invites you to pause. At the heart of this strongly characterful district, the former stronghold of the silk weavers, it is one of those village-like squares you love to discover while strolling. People come here to gain some height, feel the hill's very particular atmosphere and savour a moment suspended above the city.
Gaining height on the hill
Place Bellevue belongs to the slopes of the Croix-Rousse, the hill in the 1st arrondissement that you climb through a maze of streets and stairways. Its name says it all: the spot opens onto the city, a reward after the climb. Stopping here means taking the time to look at Lyon from above, letting your gaze run over the rooftops. Viewpoints are part of the soul of the Croix-Rousse, and this discreet square is a fine example, away from the crowds.
In the land of the silk weavers
You cannot separate Place Bellevue from the history of the Croix-Rousse, a district famous for its canuts, the silk workers who shaped this corner of Lyon. The slopes bear the mark of that past everywhere: tall buildings designed to house the looms, secret traboules, converted workshops. Strolling across the square and the surrounding streets means walking through that living memory. For a visitor, it is one of the city's most endearing districts, where authenticity is felt at every corner.
A stop on the slopes walk
Place Bellevue makes most sense as part of a walk through the Croix-Rousse slopes. You reach it on foot, taking the time to climb the narrow streets, and it offers a welcome stop to catch your breath before setting off again. Ideally, make it one stage of a wider route, heading down afterwards towards the centre or up towards the Croix-Rousse plateau and its market. At the end of the day, the light over the city adds even more to the charm of this Lyon balcony.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Place Bellevue?
On the slopes of the Croix-Rousse, in Lyon's 1st arrondissement. You reach it on foot by climbing the hill through the district's streets and stairways.
Why the name Bellevue?
Because, set on the hill's slopes, the square offers an open view over Lyon. It is a viewpoint typical of the Croix-Rousse.
What to combine it with?
With a walk through the Croix-Rousse slopes, discovering the traboules and the history of the silk weavers, up to the plateau and its market. It is an ideal stage on that route.
Wikimedia Commons — Romainbehar · Wikimedia Commons — Chabe01
