Place des Jacobins

Where it is & how to get there

• Metro: Metro A to Cordeliers or Bellecour, 5 minutes away.
• On foot: 3 minutes from Place Bellecour and Rue de la République.
• From Vieux Lyon: Cross the Saône on the Passerelle Saint-Vincent or Pont Bonaparte.

The story of Place des Jacobins

The square is named after the Dominican friars, known in France as Jacobins, whose large convent stood here until it was demolished after the French Revolution.

Its centrepiece is the fountain built in 1885 by architect Gaspard André. Four marble statues around it honour Lyon-born artists: the architect Philibert Delorme, the sculptor Guillaume Coustou, the engraver Gérard Audran and the painter Hippolyte Flandrin. The surrounding buildings with their tall Haussmann-style façades make it one of Lyon's most photogenic squares.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• It is between Bellecour and the Terreaux, so walk the Presqu'île from south to north.
• Rue Mercière, just off the square, is one of the best streets for bouchons and terraces.
• The square is in the middle of the Presqu'île, a perfect starting point for walking.

What's around Place des Jacobins

• Théâtre des CélestinsA beautiful Italian-style theatre, 2 minutes away.
• Rue MercièrePedestrian street of restaurants and bouchons.
• Place BellecourThe great central square, 5 minutes south.
• Saône quaysRiver walks with views of Fourvière and Vieux Lyon.

Questions travellers ask