Quai Tilsitt

Quai Tilsitt is a riverside walking path in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon that runs from Bonaparte Bridge to the former Ainay Bridge. Concrete slabs line this narrow waterfront passage, and multiple staircases and ramps connect the lower riverside level to the street above.

The quay was named after the Peace of Tilsitt, signed by Tsar Alexander I and Napoleon Bonaparte on July 7, 1807. This treaty reshaped the balance of power in Europe and left its mark on this Lyon waterfront.

The riverfront walk passes historic houses from the 1700s that still line the waterfront between Rue du Plat and the water. These stone facades give the path a connection to the Lyon of centuries past.

Access to the quay is available through several staircases and ramps that bridge the steep change in elevation between the water and the street above. Visitors should note that the path is narrow and may become wet during higher water levels.

A small plaque marks the spot where Thomas Jefferson crossed the Saône on the former Ainay Bridge during his March 1787 visit to Lyon. This crossing marks one of the historic moments that shaped the waterfront.

Location: 2nd arrondissement of Lyon

Part of: thoroughfare network of Lyon

Shares border with: rue Clotilde-Bizolon, Rue Joannès-Drevet, Quai Maréchal Joffre, Rue Sala, Rue du colonel-Chambonnet, Quai des Célestins, Rue Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry, Rue Paul Borel

GPS coordinates: 45.75754,4.82763

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:00