Lyon is known for its Fête des Lumières, its gastronomic traditions such as bouchons and Beaujolais Nouveau. But here’s another special feature that positions Lyon as a modern, resolutely urban city: its open-air murals. There were 190 painted walls in 2024. Most of them were created by CitéCréation, a Lyon-based company specializing in monumental design and murals, with a proven track record in Berlin, Angoulême, Switzerland and near Paris. Here’s a look at some of the unmissable murals – or at least, our favorites in Lyon.
The Canuts Wall
This is the largest fresco in Europe (and bang!). It depicts the “canuts” (the former weavers of Lyon’s silk market) and their neighborhood: the Croix-Rousse. By the way, did you know that it was regularly updated? You may well discover new details from one year to the next. And for the more passionate, 500m away on rue d’Ivry, the Maison des Canuts traces the history of these very special craftsmen. A must-see in the city!
📍 Mur des Canuts, 36 Boulevard des Canuts (corner with rue Denfert-Rochereau), Lyon 4
La Fresque des Lyonnais
Just off the Saône and Quai Saint-Vincent, another surprise awaits you on rue de la Martinière. Paul Bocuse, the Lumière brothers and other famous figures who have contributed to the glory of the city of Lyon come to life on this giant fresco, all in yellow. 2000 years of history in 25 characters emblematic of the city of Lyon. Along with the Mur des Canuts, the Fresque des Lyonnais is definitely a must-see in Lyon.
📍 Fresque des Lyonnais, 2 rue de la Martinière (corner with 49, quai Saint-Vincent), Lyon 1
Fresco at the Bibliothèque de la Cité
Are you still in front of the Fresque des Lyonnais? For your information, 350 meters further down the quayside, a giant library comes to life on the walls at the corner of rue de la Platière. Can you read the words of Louise Labé? Lyon once again proves its soul as a poetic and romantic city with this grandiose and charming fresco.
📍 Fresco at the Bibliothèque de la Cité, corner of rue Platière and quai de la Pécherie, Lyon 1
The Cinema Wall
Lyon is a city of art, even the cradle of cinema. But there’s no need to try and get into one, as you could well run into the wall! In the city’s seventh arrondissement, a tribute to the 7th art and the Lumière brothers for their invention of the cinematograph. You can see the shooting of “Sortie d’Usine”, the very first film in history. Note that the films on show are not about to change…
📍 Mur du Cinéma, 4 Place Gabriel Péri, Lyon 7
La Fresque Lumière
This façade seems to come from another dimension, and with good reason: it depicts Lyon in 2046! The drawings show Fourvière, but also the Halle Tony Garnier, covered by a steel dome. At night, it is illuminated by nearly 450 points of light powered by no less than five kilometers of cable inserted inside the wall!
📍 Fresco Lumière, 106 avenue Jean Jaurès, Lyon 7
The Paul Bocuse fresco
Opposite the namesake Halles on Cours Lafayette, the Paul Bocuse fresco pays tribute to Lyon’s erudite and undisputed chef of French gastronomy. What’s special about this mural? Like the Lumière fresco, it lights up every evening to tell us a part of the famous chef’s life story, from his successes in America and Japan to his popular brasseries. Come early and take a trip to the Halles opposite to discover the succulent flavours!
Fresco Paul Bocuse, 103 Cours Lafayette, 69002 Lyon
The Cour des Loges Fresco
It is said that a theater is being built on a facade near the Saône… It would show the sublime interior of the Cour des Loges hotel. Nestled in the heart of Vieux-Lyon, a stone’s throw from Rue Saint-Jean and the Musée Gadagne, this monumental 400m2 fresco created by Mur’Art in 1988 could well go unnoticed if we didn’t make the detour.
📍 Cour des Loges fresco, 3 Place Ennemond Fousseret (corner with Quai de Bondy), Lyon 5
Gerland Fresco
Allez les Bleus! Nestled in the heart of the Gerland district, close to the stadium of the same name, this fresco tells the story of the French team’s victory in the 1998 Football World Cup. Hundreds of details (cups, the colors of the thirty-two competing nations, the famous round ball, etc.) run the length of the 190m-high wall. Created by Lyon-based CitéCréation, it also features key elements of the district, such as the Halle Tony Garnier and the Technopôle.
📍 Gerland fresco, 18 allée Pierre de Coubertin, Lyon 7
The Diego Rivera fresco
Although the central part of the fresco (linking the two buildings) has been destroyed, the two trompe-l’oeil walls facing each other have been preserved. Retracing the history of Mexico through the eyes of Diego Rivera, one of the great names in mural art, this colorful fresco almost makes us travel to America and forget Lyon for a moment…
📍 Fresco in homage to Diego Rivera, rue Georges Gouy, Lyon 7
The Musée Urbain Tony Garnier
No fewer than 25 painted walls await you in this huge open-air art gallery! Drawn on the facades of residential buildings in the Etats-Unis district, these multiple frescoes are both genuine sketches by Tony Garnier himself, and by other international artists from Egypt, India, Mexico, Côte d’Ivoire, Russia… It’s the perfect excursion for a bike ride!
📍 Cité Tony Garnier, 4 rue des Serpollières, 69008 Lyon
The Tower of Babel and Shanghai Frescoes
Don’t rush off: just outside Cité Tony Garnier – Place Mendès France – are four beautiful frescoes telling the story of the Tower of Babel. Inspired by both Flemish art and the world of comics, these works are not to be missed if you’re in the area. Nearby, you’ll also find the Shanghai fresco, whose red clouds extend under the windows of local residents.
📍 Tour de Babel frescoes, Place Mendès France, 69008 Lyon. Shanghai fresco, 23 boulevard des Etats-Unis, 69008 Lyon
Fresco of the History of Public Transport
The metro is horrible, we admit. But a fresco recounting the history of Lyon’s public transport system may well interest us. It’s located a 30-minute walk from Gare Part-Dieu, avnue Lacassagne, more precisely at the TCL depot. On a 720m2 painted wall – no mean feat! – it tells the story of TCL from the mid-19th century to the present day, in 7 successive tableaux. You can see the old streetcars and up to 21 buses, accompanied by characters in period costumes.
📍 Fresque de l’Histoire des Transports en Commun, 98 Avenue Lacassagne, 69003 Lyon
As you’ll have gathered,the fresco mural is a unique feature of Lyon. A pioneer in the field, the city now exports its know-how all over the world thanks to its exemplary and passionate craftsmen. There are so many other not-to-be-missed frescoes in Lyon: do you have one you’d like to share with us? Do it on Instagram by mentioning #lyonsecret!