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View of Place Bellecour in Lyon, France. Photo by Mathieudu68 on

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Place Bellecour

Place Bellecour is a large square in the centre of Lyon, France. It is located to the north of the Ainay district.

Place Bellecour measures 312 metres by 200 metres (62,000 m² or equivalent to fifteen acres). It is one of the largest open squares without any patches of greenery or trees in Europe. The square is also the third biggest in France behind Place des Quinconces in Bordeaux which measures 126,000 m² and Place de la Concorde in Â鶹APP, 86,400 m².

The Place Bellecour is also the largest pedestrian square in Europe where vehicles are not allowed through. Place Bellecour is kilometre 0 of Lyon meaning that this is the point where all distances are counted from.

This square usually forms the central focus of the Peninsula between the Saone and the Rhone in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon. The place hosts the Lyon tourist office and the central post office of the region.

There are four major streets at Place Bellecour which include: The Rue de la République, Rue du Plat, Rue du President-Edouard-Herriot and Rue Victor-Hugo. There is an equestrian statue of King Louis XIV by Francois-Frederic Lemot in the middle of Place Bellecour.

Another statue is also found in Place Bellecour opposite King Louis XIV. This place is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here are the top 10 Remarkable Facts about Place Bellecour:

1. A Royal Statue was Built in the Square and later Destroyed

In the late 12th century, the square was established. Many years later in 1708, the ownership of the square was changed.

Louis XIV obtained full ownership of the square. The square was adorned with a bronze statue of the king which was made by Martin Desjardins.

Some buildings were constructed whose facades were designed by Robert De Corte, the first architect of Louis XIV. During the French revolution, several changes took place.

Among them was the building of an alter at the square. This led to the destruction of the royal statue in 1793 after a guillotine was built in 1792.

2. The Square had Different Names before Place Bellecour

Place Bellecour, Lyon. Photo by Chabe01 on

After Louis XIV obtained ownership of the square in 1708, more changes began. In 1715, the square was named the Place Royale.

Later on, the square was renamed Place Louis-le-Grand and a bronze statue was constructed. During the period of the French Revolution, an altar dedicated to Liberty was erected on 14th July 1790.

During this period, the name of the square changed to the Place de la Federation. In 1793, the statue was destroyed and the name changed to Place de I’Egalite.

After the victory of Napoleon, the square was renamed Place Bonaparte and later Place Napoleon. During the Bourbon restoration, the square took its current name Place Bellecour.

3. Place Bellecour is the Kilometre 0 of Lyon and has a Metro Station

The square is significant to the city of Lyon. It is kilometre zero from Lyon city.

This means that all distances are counted from the point of Place Bellecour. There is also a metro station around which is known as Bellecour.

The metro station is an intersection of lines A and D. It is also served by many buses including 10, 14 and 88.

4. There are Four Great Statues in the Square

Place Bellecour. Photo by Zakarie Faibis on

At the centre of Place Bellecour is an equestrian statue of King Louis XIV which was made by Francois Frédéric Lemot. It was created in 1713, destroyed to make cannon in 1793 and remade in 1825.

In 1825, Francois sculpted the statue and transported it to Lyon in twelve days on a coupling drawn by twenty-four horses. It was then installed at the centre of the square.

This statue is accompanied by two allegorical statues of the Saone and the Rhone. These were created by the brothers Nicolas and Guillaume in 1720.

There is also another statue of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry sitting in front of the Little Prince. This statue was erected in 2000 for the centenary of the aviator’s birth.

5. Place Bellecour is One of the Largest Open Squares without Patches of Trees

It is not that easy to find a large square without any patches of greenery or trees in a large city. Place Bellecour located in the city of Lyon is one of them.

The square measures 312 metres by 200 metres. This makes it one of the largest open squares in Europe without any patches of greenery or trees.

In France, it is the third largest behind Place des Quinconces in Bordeaux and Place de la Concorde in Â鶹APP. The square is a cool place to pass through.

6. It is the Largest Pedestrian Square in Europe

Place Bellecour, Lyon. Photo by Chabe01 on

Other than being one of the largest open squares without any patches of greenery or trees, Place Bellecour also has more unique features. It is also the largest pedestrian square in Europe.

Place Bellecour only allows pedestrians to pass through and not vehicles as there is a separate metro station. It is unique unlike Place de la Concorde and Place des Quinconces where vehicles are allowed.

7. The Square Hosts the Lyon Tourist Office and Central Post Office

Place Bellecour has several other interesting functions for the city of Lyon. Other than serving as a square for relaxation and pedestrians, Place Bellecour has more functions.

It hosts the Lyon tourist office. There is also the central post office located within Place Bellecour.

8. Six Major Events usually take Place on Place Bellecour

Place Bellecour, Lyon, FRANCE. Photo by Christophe.Finot on

Place Bellecour also serves as the ground for various events. Yearly, several events take place on Place Bellecour.

Some of these events include: In winter, an ice rink is installed. Some concerts and events including a book fair or a distribution of the Petit Paume take place.

Student or trade union demos pass through, on the weekend of Pentecost, there is a petanque competition, every Friday night, the square is the starting point of a roller ride and in Winter, a 60-meter Ferris wheel is installed.

9. Four Major Streets start from Place Bellecour

The square is a focus of the city’s shopping streets. Four major streets with two being pedestrianised start from Place Bellecour.

These streets include the Rue de la République which leads to Hotel de Ville and Opera Nouvel, Rue Victor-Hugo and Rue du Plat which leads to Perrache and Rue du President-Edouard-Herriot which has a concentration of luxury shops.

10. The Quarter of Vieux Lyon and Lyon Cathedral face Place Bellecour

Place Bellecour saw from Fourvière, Lyon. Photo by Chabe01 on

There are several attraction sites near Place Bellecour. Some of these monuments and buildings across the square make it a beautiful place to pass through.

The quarter of Vieux Lyon usually faces the square. The Lyon Cathedral also faces the square over the Saone.