The Hôtel de l'Europe, originally known as the Hôtel de Senozan or Hôtel de Montribloud, was built in 1653 by Girard Desargues for Pierre Perrachon de Saint-Maurice.

17th century: It passed through different owners and underwent structural modifications, notably additions of buildings by the Olivier de Senozan family at the beginning of the 18th century.

French Revolution: After the Revolution, the hotel was converted into a hotel for travelers. It gained fame by welcoming prestigious travelers.

19th century: During this century, the hotel hosted many notable personalities, such as members of royal families, artists, and political figures. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, its hotel activity declined.

1996: The Hôtel de l’Europe is listed as a historic monument under the reference PA00135657. Restoration work is being undertaken to preserve its original architectural elements.

Currently: After its renovation, the hotel has been transformed into a tertiary activity center, including housing, offices and shops.

Magnificent building built in 1893 by the architect Joseph-Etienne Malaval, to whom we owe the 2nd arrondissement Town Hall.

This building housed the Short story writer : conservative and catholic newspaper. This daily supported collaboration during the second world war and stopped publishing in August 1944

The building has many decorations on the facade:

• The decoration of the building is very elaborate and is inspired by the Renaissance style, using elements such as Corinthian columns and pilasters, as well as a well motif often associated with Philibert Delorme (Bullioud gallery).
• Notice the statue of Joan of Arc made by the sculptor Paul-Emile Millefaud : it measures 3.5m, and is carved from a single block of Carrara marble (source). Joan of Arc prepares to enter battle and entrusts her fate to God through her prayers, as is implicitly suggested by the symbolic gesture of offering her sword.
• At the very top of the building (crowning of the edifice) the monumental heraldic figure, a "fighting" lion, holding in its claws the motto of the newspaper: " God and Country »
• Arc key forming a medallion under the statue of Joan of Arc. The two lions standing on a globe hold the “N” from the Nouvelliste.

It all began in 1658, when Louis XIV decided to rename Place Bellecour to Place Royale to honor his person. To mark this event, the city of Lyon considered installing an equestrian statue of the king and renamed the square "Louis-le-Grand". The creation of this statue was entrusted to Martin Desjardins, a Parisian sculptor.

After its completion in Paris in 1694, it was decided to transport it to Lyon. Due to its considerable weight, the transport was done by river and sea, passing through Rouen, the Strait of Gibraltar, Toulon, Arles, and then up the Rhone to Oullins. However, upon its arrival in 1701, the statue capsized.

It would take another twelve years to install it on its base, decorated with allegorical representations of the Saone and of Rhone, created by Coustou in 1715.

With the advent of the Revolution in 1792, a decree required the destruction of all royal representations in order to recycle the bronze in the manufacture of cannons. The disappearance of the royal effigies then served as an alibi for military needs in bronze.

It was not until 1825, during the Restoration, that the city of Lyon decided to commission a new equestrian statue of Louis XIV from François-Frédéric Lemot, a sculptor from Lyon. Because of its imposing dimensions – 5.70 metres high and weighing 15 tonnes – Lemot called on a Parisian founder. The statue was transported to Lyon by land, pulled by a chariot drawn by 10 horses, requiring twelve days to reach its destination.

At the heart of this emblematic square stands a monumental work entitled “Stone Watcher”, created by the sculptor Georges Salendre and inaugurated in 1948.

This imposing sculpture has a profound meaning, commemorating a tragic episode that occurred on July 27, 1944. Five men were executed in retaliation for an attack carried out a few hours earlier by the Resistance against the café-restaurant of Windmill, frequented by the occupier.

It is essential to emphasize that the five men shot were being held in Montluc prison at the time of the attack, and therefore could not be held responsible for this act. However, they were chosen "as an example":

• René Bernard, 40-year-old communist activist;
• Albert Chambonnet, regional head of the Secret Army, aged 41;
• Francis Chirat, 27-year-old Catholic activist;
• Gilbert Dru, also a 24-year-old Catholic activist;
• Léon Pfeffer, member of the Francs-tireurs and supporters of the Immigrant Labor, aged 21.

The sculpture “Stone Watcher” stands today on the very site of the execution, becoming the epicentre of the commemorations of remembrance in Lyon. This symbolic work bears witness to the sacrifice of these unjustly condemned men and reminds present and future generations of the importance of preserving collective memory and paying tribute to those who fought for freedom and justice. By exploring this emotionally charged place, we commit ourselves to perpetuating the duty of remembrance and honouring the courage of those who sacrificed their lives for an ideal of freedom.

Lyon, France’s second-largest city, is full of hidden treasures and cultural gems. Among them, a one-of-a-kind work of art paying tribute to one of Lyon’s favorite sons, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a renowned writer and aviator. While the city itself boasts such illustrious figures as Roman Emperor Claudius and Michelin-starred chef Paul Bocuse, it is with a special statue that Lyon has chosen to celebrate Saint-Exupéry.

In 2000, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Saint-Exupéry's birth, the city of Lyon unveiled an exceptional statue representing the author and his famous Little Prince. Nestled discreetly on the southwest corner of Place Bellecour, opposite Saint-Exupéry's birthplace, this work of art stands proudly on an imposing fifteen-foot column.

The idea behind this artistic representation is as poetic as Saint-Exupéry’s work itself. Let’s imagine Antoine and the Little Prince perched on one of the planets described in the book, silently observing the Earth from their pedestal. The statue, although located in the heart of one of the most famous and frequented squares in Lyon, seems strangely unknown.

A mystery that could be attributed to its discreet location, in front of a bus stop and under a canopy of trees, giving the impression that the statue is almost hidden from the eyes of passers-by. Despite the fame of Place Bellecour, it is surprising to note that few visitors take the time to contemplate this exceptional work of art or to capture its beauty in a photo.

For lovers of history, art and literature, this statue offers a unique opportunity to connect with the legacy of Saint-Exupéry, whose influence extends far beyond the borders of Lyon. So, the next time you visit Lyon, take the time to discover this hidden treasure, an artistic tribute to the author of The Little Prince, silently waiting to be discovered in the heart of the City of Lights.

The Bellecour Theatre, a former Lyon theatre located at 85 rue de la République, was designed by Émile Guimet and architect Jules Chatron, opening its doors on September 25, 1879.

The first performance at the theatre was Alexandre Dumas's (fils) "The Youth of Louis XIV" at its inauguration in 1879. In 1882, an explosion in the theatre's restaurant, known as "L'Assommoir", involved anarchists, including Antoine Cyvoct.

In 1892, Émile Guimet gave the theatre and the museum to the city of Lyon. From 1895 to 1985, the building served as the headquarters of the newspaper Le Progrès before becoming a FNAC.

Admire this building which stands out with its rotunda, its frieze decorated with masks, and its caryatids supporting an elegant balcony.

Also note the ornamental detail of the façade. There is a dome on a drum, a female bust, caryatids (on the outside for the theatre, on the inside for the museum), smiling female faces, simply tied hair, a lyre (attached to the semicircular arch on the façade for the theatre, on a console in the large room on the first floor at the museum), scrolled cushions, bells, cords, ribbons, closed water flowers or palmettes.

Admire the most notable house, which is the one, as the plaque indicates, where Louise Labé was born in 1526, the beautiful cordière, a name that the neighboring street adopted in her honor.

The particularity of this residence lies in its magnificent door, framed by two superb arches and surmounted by a remarkable impost displaying the head of the beautiful Louise.

Note the satyr-headed mascaron placed on the keystone of the door. Its main role is apotropaic, aimed at warding off evil spirits to protect a home. 

Louise Labé, nicknamed "La Belle Cordière", was a French poet of the Renaissance, born in Lyon in 1524 and died in 1566. She is best known for her poetic work and her involvement in the literary circles of her time.