Place Bellecour

Welcome to Plas Bel-coor, the massive red-earth beating heart of Lyon and one of the largest open pedestrian plazas in Europe. Spanning over 62,000 square meters, this vast square is the 'Kilometer Zero' from which all distances…

At the absolute center of the square stands the bronze equestrian statue of Louis XIV, the 'Sun King.' Created by the sculptor François-Frédéric Lemot and inaugurated in 1825, it replaced an earlier statue destroyed during the…

In the southwest corner of the square, you will find a more intimate and beloved monument dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the Lyon-born author of 'The Little Prince.' The statue depicts the author sitting on a column with…

Each winter, the square undergoes a transformation with the installation of a massive Ferris wheel, or 'Grande Roue.' Rising high above the city, it offers panoramic views that stretch from the Four-vee-air hill to the Alps on a…

The buildings surrounding Plas Bel-coor are prime examples of mid-19th century urban planning. Following the model set by Baron Haussmann in Paris, Lyon’s architects created these uniform, elegant facades with their distinct…

A scholarly analysis of Bel-coor must mention its unique surface. While many European squares are paved in stone or asphalt, Bel-coor is covered in 'gore,' a type of decomposed granite with a distinct reddish-orange hue. …

Finally, we must consider the square’s functional role as a transport hub. Beneath the surface lies the city’s largest metro station, where the A and D lines intersect. …

Our exploration of Plas Bel-coor ends here, in the center of its red-gravel expanse. We have seen how this square functions as a site of royal power, literary pride, urban leisure, and social connectivity. …