Jardin archéologique Girard Desargues, Archaeological garden near Saint-Jean Cathedral, Lyon, France.
The Jardin archéologique Girard Desargues is a rectangular garden in central Lyon that displays the preserved remains of three medieval religious buildings laid out in their original positions. Stone walls, a baptistery circle, and architectural fragments from these structures are presented together within the grassy site.
The three religious buildings at this site date back to the 4th century and formed an important Christian center in early Lyon. Archaeological work in the 1970s uncovered these structures beneath the city surface and brought their significance in Lyon's development back to light.
The site carries the name of a Lyon mathematician from the 17th century whose work shaped projective geometry and laid foundations for modern mathematics. Visitors can directly experience how religious buildings once stood interconnected in this central location.
The garden is open to the public with no barriers, and information panels at various points explain the ruins and their context. Seating areas and grass provide comfortable spaces to pause and examine the different structures at your own pace.
The site reveals the only visible remains of an early episcopal complex that typically stays hidden beneath modern city structures above it. This exposure allows visitors to see through the layers of urban development that would otherwise remain completely concealed.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
