Place Saint-Nizier, Square and pedestrian zone in central Lyon, France
Place Saint-Nizier is a trapezoidal square in central Lyon, straddling the boundary between the 1st and 2nd arrondissements. It is dominated by the church of the same name, which rises on one side with two unmatched towers, one older and built in brick, the other completed in the 19th century.
As early as the 2nd century, a place of worship is thought to have stood on this site, making it one of the oldest religious spots in Lyon. The church seen today dates mainly from the 14th and 15th centuries, though the Renaissance portal on its facade was added in the 16th century.
The square sits on the border between the 1st and 2nd arrondissements, linking two neighborhoods that feel slightly different from each other. The gargoyles on the church facade draw the eye, especially as the light shifts through the day and shadows move across the stone.
The square is easy to reach on foot and sits close to the Cordeliers metro station. It is surrounded by pedestrian streets, so it is best explored without a car.
Beneath the square lie buried remains from a medieval cemetery that once occupied this space. The church's Renaissance portal, built in the 16th century, reflects Lyon's close ties with Italy at a time when the city was a major trade crossing between the two countries.
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