Quais de Saône

The banks of the Saône, in Lyon

The banks of the Saône are magnificent promenades by the river, between the Vieux-Lyon and the Presqu'île. The Lyon audio-guided tour stops here to evoke these laid-out banks, animated by booksellers and offering fine views over the old façades and Fourvière.

The banks between the Vieux-Lyon and the Presqu'île

The banks of the Saône are among the most pleasant promenades of Lyon. The Saône, one of the two rivers of the town with the Rhône, winds between the hill of Fourvière and the Presqu'île, separating the Vieux-Lyon from the modern centre. Its banks, laid out and largely pedestrian, offer a charming setting to stroll, observe the reflection of the old façades in the water and admire the hill of Fourvière topped with its basilica. There you cross the river by numerous bridges and footbridges that link the two banks. The quays are also animated by the booksellers, these sellers of old and second-hand books installed along the water, and by the cafés, the terraces and the boats. Within the framework of the redevelopment of the banks, contemporary works of art mark the route, mixing heritage and creation. At sunset, the light on the water and the monuments is particularly beautiful. An emblematic promenade along the water, the banks of the Saône are a must-see stop of the discovery of Lyon.

What to see

Here you stroll along the magnificent laid-out banks of the Saône, between the Vieux-Lyon and the Presqu'île, which offer the reflection of the old façades in the water and the view over the hill of Fourvière and its basilica, animated by the booksellers, the cafés and the boats, marked by contemporary works of art and linked by numerous bridges. The banks of the Saône are a fine promenade of Lyon. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The banks of the Saône extend between the Vieux-Lyon and the Presqu'île, reachable on foot. They are public promenades largely pedestrian, freely accessible; the booksellers, cafés and river cruises have their own hours. The promenade is particularly pleasant at sunset.

What is particular about the banks of the Saône in Lyon?

These laid-out and largely pedestrian banks, between the Vieux-Lyon and the Presqu'île, offer the reflection of the old façades in the water and the view over Fourvière and its basilica, animated by the booksellers and marked by contemporary works of art, linked by numerous bridges.

Where are the banks of the Saône of Lyon?

Between the Vieux-Lyon and the Presqu'île, in Lyon, in France.