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Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon

Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon

Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon
4.5
Historic SitesArchitectural BuildingsReligious SitesChurches & Cathedrals
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Sunday
2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
About
A 12th-century Gothic cathedral with impressive stained-glass windows.
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  • permia
    65,981 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Inspirational
    It’s an inspiring vision and particularly seeing it for the first time early morning and with suffusing clear blue-sky light enhancing throughout. Sublime stone craft on the facades is a beautiful prelude to stepping inside. Standing at the rear and gazing along the light filled nave bordered by graceful soaring slender columns was a memorable experience. Natural light through gorgeous stained glass and filling the holy space was a special sight. Decorative beauty is everywhere. Statuary is plentiful and portrays holy images, supplemented by religious paintings.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 18, 2023
  • StanBrynmawr
    Brynmawr, United Kingdom722 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful cathedral in Vieux Ville
    On a little square in the heart of the old town Vieux Ville. Beautiful small cathedral with fantastic stained glass windows. Check out the small museum on right as you come in.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 19, 2024
  • brmusicman
    Chicago, Illinois3,120 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    So beautiful -- elegant stained glass
    Wow. We spent the day touring around Lyon and decided to visit the cathedral, and then have lunch in the square in front. The cathedral is stunningly beautiful and a real pleasure to explore. The stained glass is absolutely beautiful -- a riot of color that has been well-preserved. The church was quiet and easy to explore. Entry was free, though donations were encouraged. There was a small gift shop with nice postcards. Definitely worth your time while in Lyon.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 29, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,815 reviews
Excellent
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759
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226
Poor
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These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Wendy V
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada1,081 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
This cathedral is well worth a visit if you walk by. It dominates the plaza. When we went in we were almost the only people there, which made it much more special. A great place to spend a bit of time away from the crowds.
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

frank806
Bristol, UK191 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022 • Couples
It feels curiously sterile and secular inside. I have to admire the way that the French feel no obligation to translate any guidance into another language, but it means that I learnt very little when I was there.
Also, for some reason, it only opened late in the afternoon.
Written September 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

minnesotans4
Saint Paul, MN3,119 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Family
This Gothic designed cathedral is on the UNESCO list. It was built in 1180 on the ruins of a 6th Century church. The completion was in 1476 and dedicated to John the Baptist. There is a very tall ornate astronomical clock on the left side of the altar from 1383. It was last repaired in the 1950’s and was said to have the perpetual calendar last 66 years but it hasn’t been working since 2013.
Written May 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

karapon
Fuchu, Japan1,994 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Solo
This is a Gothic cathedral located in the old town.
It is located just to the left after exiting Vieux Lyon station on Metro Line D, from which you can transfer to the funicular to Fourvière Hill.
Although it gives a more modest impression than Notre-Dame de Fourvière, the interior of this cathedral is also magnificent, decorated with many ceiling paintings, religious paintings on the walls, sculptures, and stained glass.
The adjacent treasury is small in scale, but displays valuable items such as the Holy Grail.
Google
Written January 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wesley C
Tucson, AZ10,283 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021
Gothic Cathedral St John the Baptist is located in Vieux Lyon. Construction began in 1180 on the ruins of a 6th Century church and was completed in 1476. Internally, it is 80 meters long, 20 meters wide and 32.5 meters high. Until the construction of Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourviere, this was the pre-eminent church in Lyon. Two of the highlights are the ornate 14th Century astronomical clock and the beautiful stained glass windows.
Written October 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nordman1
Alencon, France1,206 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Couples
You are in the heart of an old district, classified as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Primatial of the Gauls, this Saint John the Baptist cathedral, begun in 1175, was not completed until 1480.
His style then changed from Romanesque to Gothic.

The apse faces the river, while the porch faces the cobbled Place Saint Jean and its beautiful statue of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, in the center.
On the height, the Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica towers over the cathedral.

On the bank of the Saône, this squat building marks the entrance to old Lyon via the picturesque Rue Saint Jean where most of Lyon's corks (restaurants) are concentrated.

It was in this primatial of Gaul that the marriage of Henry IV and Marie de Medici was celebrated in the year 1600.
The interior is quite sober. Two beautiful stained glass rosettes are worth noting.
Don't miss the exceptional animated astronomical clock at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m.

The manecantry (or house of cantors - school of liturgical choral singing) adjoining the cathedral houses the treasure, consisting of tapestries, priestly vestments, liturgical objects, works of goldsmiths.

Major pieces come from donations from Joséphine de Beauharnais and Cardinal Joseph Fesch, appointed Primate of Gaul in 1802 by his nephew Napoleon.
Free visit to the cathedral treasure.
Google
Written April 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Régis1972
Lancy, Switzerland19,567 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
This magnificent cathedral has been called the “Gallic Primate” since 1079, a distinction granted by Pope Gregory VII in memory of the martyrs and the first Christian church of Gaul, founded in Lyon by Saint Pothin around 160 AD. A church of importance, it has seen significant events, such as the two Councils of 1245 and 1274, the coronation of Pope John XXII in 1316, and the Mass in honour of the royal wedding between Henry IV and Mary of Medici in 1600. Today, the main religious ceremonies of the city take place there, so do not hesitate to go back and admire this magnificent building. The rendering is also extraordinary during the Festival of Lights.
Automatically translated
Written September 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

alessandra_biondi3
Ferrara, Italy30,387 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
The peculiarity of this cathedral is that it contains two styles: the Romanesque which began in 1100, then as the times extended over centuries the style also changed, thus prevailing over the Gothic, it is a cathedral of stylistic transition. I was honestly sorry that the famous ancient astronomical clock doesn't work. The Bourbon chapel is unmissable. A plaque commemorates that the marriage by proxy between Henry IV and Maria de Medici took place here on 17.12.1600. On the outside, many sculptures plundered during the wars are missing on the facade. The square in front is very pretty with the Saint Jean fountain.
Google
Written October 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Orazione73
Ferrara, Italy2,756 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
The cathedral of Saint John is located in old Lyon, at the foot of the hill dominated by the Fourviere basilica. Of medieval origins, the Gothic church is large in size, has some beautiful stained glass windows and an imposing astronomical clock. On the right of the entrance there is a room dedicated to the treasures of the diocese, some tapestries and other liturgical objects. Free admission.
Google
Written August 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

brmusicman
Chicago, IL3,120 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Couples
Wow. We spent the day touring around Lyon and decided to visit the cathedral, and then have lunch in the square in front.

The cathedral is stunningly beautiful and a real pleasure to explore. The stained glass is absolutely beautiful -- a riot of color that has been well-preserved.

The church was quiet and easy to explore. Entry was free, though donations were encouraged. There was a small gift shop with nice postcards.

Definitely worth your time while in Lyon.
Written September 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon

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