Jardin des Curiosités, Park in Saint-Just neighborhood, Lyon, France
The Jardin des Curiosités, also known as the Jardin de Montréal, is a park perched on the heights of the Saint-Just neighborhood in Lyon's 5th arrondissement. From there, visitors get a wide, open view over the rooftops of Lyon, the Saône river, and the surrounding hills.
The garden opened in 2000 as a gift from the Canadian city of Montreal to Lyon, marking two decades of twinning between the two cities. The design was entrusted to a team of Canadian architects and designers from Montreal, who shaped the space around art and viewpoints.
The garden was created as a gift from Montreal to Lyon to mark twenty years of partnership between the two cities. Six bronze chair sculptures by Canadian artist Michel Goulet, each carrying a short poetic inscription, stand in the northern section and invite visitors to sit and reflect.
The park sits on a hill and some paths are slightly steep, so sturdy footwear is a good idea, especially after rain. A visit around dusk is rewarding, as the light over the city rooftops is at its best at that time of day.
One of the garden's terraces is covered in warm orange-toned sand that echoes the color of Lyon's tiled rooftops visible just below. A small footbridge modeled on Montreal's Jacques-Cartier Bridge also stands in the garden, making the link between the two partner cities visible on the ground.
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