Saint-Jean Cathedral

The Cathedral of Saint-Jean, in Lyon

The Cathedral of Saint-Jean is the great religious building of the Vieux-Lyon, famous for its astronomical clock. The Lyon audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this Gothic and Romanesque sanctuary, primatial of the Gauls, in the heart of the historic district.

The primatial and its astronomical clock

The Cathedral of Saint-Jean, or primatial of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, is the main religious building of Lyon and the seat of the primate of the Gauls, a title that the archbishop of Lyon bears. Its construction extended over nearly three centuries, from the twelfth to the fifteenth, which explains the harmonious mixture of the Romanesque and Gothic styles, from the old choir to the flamboyant façade. Its interior shelters magnificent medieval stained-glass windows, among the oldest of France, which bathe the nave in a coloured light. But the most famous treasure of the cathedral is its astronomical clock, one of the oldest of Europe, which indicates the time, the date, the positions of the stars and animates, at certain hours, charming automatons. The cathedral stands on a square of the Vieux-Lyon, where you also discover the vestiges of former churches and a baptistery. A major sanctuary and a jewel of the heritage, the Cathedral of Saint-Jean is discovered with respect.

What to see

You admire, with respect, the main cathedral of Lyon, seat of the primate of the Gauls, built from the twelfth to the fifteenth century in a harmonious mixture of Romanesque and Gothic, with its magnificent medieval stained-glass windows among the oldest of France, and above all its astronomical clock, one of the oldest of Europe, which animates automatons. The Cathedral of Saint-Jean is a jewel of the Vieux-Lyon. It is a stop to be discovered with respect.

Practical information

The Cathedral of Saint-Jean lies in the heart of the Vieux-Lyon, reachable on foot. A place of worship, it can be visited with respect for services; entry is generally free, but hours vary. The astronomical clock animates its automatons at certain hours of the day. It is best to check the arrangements before coming and to respect the sacred character of the place.

What is particular about the Cathedral of Saint-Jean of Lyon?

Its astronomical clock, one of the oldest of Europe, which indicates the time, the date and the positions of the stars and animates automatons; seat of the primate of the Gauls, it was built from the twelfth to the fifteenth century, mixing Romanesque and Gothic, and keeps magnificent medieval stained-glass windows.

Where is the Cathedral of Saint-Jean of Lyon?

In the heart of the Vieux-Lyon, in France.