Lyon Attractions
Description
Venue: Cathédrale Saint Jean When: Daily
With its severe Gothic façade and astoundingly complicated astrological clock, the Cathedrale St Jean dominates Vieux Lyon, France's largest Renaissance quarter.
Started in 1175 by Archbishop Guichard, completion of the building took over three centuries and the façade disguises a medley of work from different periods.
Having decided to reconstruct the ancient 4th-century Cathédrale St Etienne and St Jean-Baptiste on its original site, the Archbishop had to modify plans and begin anew, 20 metres away, due to the limited space of the former area. The present site was available, largely because of its instability, having once been part of the Saone river. Consequently, today the cathedral slants slightly to the south and has cracks in the transept and choir.
Collected by Cardinals Fesch and de Bonald during the 19th century, the cathedral's trésor includes gold and silverware, liturgical vestments, tapestries and enamelware, with some objects dating back to the Byzantine period. The famed clock accomplishes the most bizarre feats, from calculating all Feast Days to the year 2019 to the position of the stars over Lyon. Don't miss it striking the hour, when all at once a furiously flapping cock begins to crow, the Angel Gabriel appears before the Virgin, God blesses the Virgin and a choir of angels sing.
With its severe Gothic façade and astoundingly complicated astrological clock, the Cathedrale St Jean dominates Vieux Lyon, France's largest Renaissance quarter.
Started in 1175 by Archbishop Guichard, completion of the building took over three centuries and the façade disguises a medley of work from different periods.
Having decided to reconstruct the ancient 4th-century Cathédrale St Etienne and St Jean-Baptiste on its original site, the Archbishop had to modify plans and begin anew, 20 metres away, due to the limited space of the former area. The present site was available, largely because of its instability, having once been part of the Saone river. Consequently, today the cathedral slants slightly to the south and has cracks in the transept and choir.
Collected by Cardinals Fesch and de Bonald during the 19th century, the cathedral's trésor includes gold and silverware, liturgical vestments, tapestries and enamelware, with some objects dating back to the Byzantine period. The famed clock accomplishes the most bizarre feats, from calculating all Feast Days to the year 2019 to the position of the stars over Lyon. Don't miss it striking the hour, when all at once a furiously flapping cock begins to crow, the Angel Gabriel appears before the Virgin, God blesses the Virgin and a choir of angels sing.
Lyon Information
Lyon Tourist Office
Address: 19 Place Bellecour, Lyon
Phone: +33 (0) 4 72 77 69 69
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'bool' object is not callableEvents
Looking for things to do around Lyon? Here are some of the events and attractions happening in the area.
| Bocuse d'Or - World Cuisine Contest |
Jan 2009 (biennial) Eurexpo |
| World Pastry Cup |
Jan 2009 (annual) Eurexpo |
| Festival of Lights |
Dec 2008 (annual) Lyon |
| Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon |
20 - 26 Oct 2008 (annual) Palais des Sports de Gerland |
| Tasting Week - La Semaine du Goût |
13 - 19 Oct 2008 (annual) Bordeaux |
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