Place Bellevue, Square and scenic viewpoint in La Croix-Rousse district, Lyon, France.
Place Bellevue is a square and viewing platform located in the La Croix-Rousse district, featuring two 19th-century residential buildings positioned at the intersection of streets that lead toward Austerlitz and Bodin. The site opens to the east with unobstructed vistas across the city and surrounding areas.
This square took shape during the Second Empire era, emerging as part of the city's transformation when fortifications were removed from the area. Changes in the 1870s reflected the demolition of Lyon's defensive walls near Fort Saint Laurent, opening up space for urban development.
A statue of Sully Prudhomme occupies the square, commemorating the poet who founded an organization dedicated to protecting France's natural landscapes and scenery. The monument reflects the area's connection to conservation efforts that shaped how people value their surroundings.
The site is accessible via TCL public transport and Vélo'v bike-sharing stations, with staircases connecting to nearby streets such as Magneval and Philibert Delorme. The terrain is quite steep, making the walk uphill demanding, though visitors find the effort worthwhile for the views.
On clear days, the view stretches to include the TGV viaduct, Parc de la Tête d'Or, the Musée Guimet tower, and even the snow-capped peaks of Mont Blanc in the distance. What makes this spot unusual is how many of the city's landmark features appear together from this single viewpoint.
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