A breath of fresh air in Lyon's Parc de la Tête d'Or

Published on May 31, 2024 at 9:57 am

A stroll through the Parc de la Tête d'Or is a must on any trip to Lyon. With seven sumptuous entrances, this splendid garden attracts nature lovers every year. Flower beds, rose and peony parterres will punctuate your walk and embellish it with their fragrances and colours. Now the city's largest green space, the freshness of the lake, the flora of the botanical gardens and the fauna of the zoo make visitors forget that they are in the heart of a major metropolis. Occupying the whole of the northern half of Lyon's 6th arrondissement and bordered by the Rhône, its central square makes it a favourite spot for tourists and locals alike. Whether you're jogging, reading by the lake or wandering among the animals, it's a real breath of fresh air between the architecture and the bustle of the City of Lights.

Main greenhouse at the Parc de la Tête d'Or in Lyon

Summary

The birth of the green lung
Take a trip on a glider
A veritable museum of flora
Tour of the animal world, at the zoo
Where to stay nearby?

Lyon

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The birth of the green lung

Designed to offer the people of Lyon a place to stroll and relax in the heart of nature, the Domaine de la Tête d'Or is the city's green lung. It takes its name from a legend that claims a solid gold head of Christ is hidden within it. Opened to the public in 1857 after extensive work by the Bülher brothers, the park as we know it today has evolved considerably since then.

Bridge over a stream in the Parc de la Tête d'Or in Lyon

Covering an area of 117 hectares, it features a 16-hectare lake, a large zoo with more than 450 animals and 60 different species, a huge rose garden with more than 60,000 rose bushes and a botanical garden with thousands of plant species, many of which are considered threatened. Modelled on the English garden, it is a paradise of green lawns, century-old trees and flowerbeds.

Small train at the Tête d'Or Park in Lyon

A breath of fresh air in the heart of the city

Seven sumptuous entrances provide access to this splendid site. The most notable is undoubtedly the Porte des Enfants du Rhône. This provides a view of a 16-hectare lake at the centre of a landscaped composition. The Isle of Tamaris and the Island of Remembrance emerge from the water.

Puerta Enfants du Rhône, Parque de la Tête d'Or

Take a trip on a glider

The walk takes you along the shores of the lake, where the calm is soothing and the greenery so vibrant. In small groups and weather permitting, a pedalo ride is a welcome way to take in the lake scenery and get closer to the islands. Rendezvous at the park's pier (Embarcadère) for this leg-powered excursion.

View of Fourvière from the park

Practical info

⏰ Opening times:

10am to 6.30pm on Wednesdays, Saturdays and school holidays. 10am to 7pm on Sundays and public holidays.
Annual closure from early November to mid-February

👛 Price:

gliders and rowing boats: 18 euros (30 minutes) / 25 euros (45 minutes) / 32 euros (1 hour)
electric boats: 35 euros (30 minutes) / 50 euros (45 minutes) / 65 euros (1 hour)

👉 For rowing boats, the maximum capacity is 4 people. For gliders and electric boats, the maximum capacity is 5 people.

🎟️ For more information about tickets and bookings, go here

A veritable museum of flora

Located on the banks of the Rhône, this large public park also includes a botanical garden, greenhouses, rose gardens and thousands of trees. In the garden, 6,500 m² of greenhouses house almost 15,000 plants! Each one is designed around a specific ecosystem: tropical, aquatic, Dutch, warm, etc.

The discovery of the park's flora continues in the immense rose garden. Hundreds of different species and thousands of rosebushes are spread across the magnificent paths of this 100% floral area! Red for love, yellow for friendship, pink for tenderness or white for purity? If you can't decide, enjoy all the scents this spring.

Paruqe de la Tête d'Or Rose Garden

Replenish your strength before continuing your stroll in the park's little shops. Waffle fanatics won't want to miss the excellent Gaufrerie du Parc! The overflowing generosity (of the waffles) and the fragrant scents that fill the air are a real hit with passers-by. Take the opportunity to sit down on a bench by the water or in the shade of the trees to enjoy this sweet treat in peace.

Garden Greenhouse, Tête d'Or Park

Tour of the animal world, at the zoo

Originally a small educational farm, a zoo covering several hectares, with hundreds of animals, is now accessible in the park. With free admission, this is the ideal family activity for discovering species from all over the world. Birds, monkeys, giraffes, lions and even pink flamingos live together in this place of animal life. Education remains the very essence of the site, and it's not impossible that you'll come across visiting schools or veterinary trainees. The recreated savannah, wetland and tropical forest allow the animals to evolve in a space that resembles their natural habitat.

In 2021, the new Forêts d'Asie area opened its doors to animals... and to visitors. Here, it's the walker who adapts to the animal, a positive development for animal welfare. The Malaysian tapirs are the kings of this area, which has been designed with them in mind.