Loyasse Cemetery, Lyon, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Loyasse Cemetery is a historic burial ground on the Fourvière hill in Lyon, France, and the oldest surviving cemetery in the city. It opened in 1807 and has become the resting place of many well-known Lyonnais, which has led people to compare it to Père-Lachaise in Paris. Its hillside setting a short walk from the Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica makes it a quiet stop above the busy city.

The story behind it

By the end of the 18th century, the cemeteries beside Lyon's churches were overflowing, and burial inside the crowded city had become a real problem. It was settled by a decree in 1804 that moved burials away from town centres. Loyasse was inaugurated three years later, in 1807, on the heights west of the Saône.

Over the following generations the cemetery filled with the family tombs of the city's notable citizens. Among them is Édouard Herriot, who was mayor of Lyon for decades and also served as prime minister of France. Walking between the graves is a way to read Lyon's social history through the names and monuments of those who shaped it.

What to look for

• Look at the family tombs and funerary chapels, which show how Lyon's wealthier families chose to be remembered in the 19th century.
• Find the grave of Édouard Herriot, the long-serving mayor and former prime minister, who is one of the best-known people buried here.
• Notice the sloping layout of the cemetery, with its terraces and paths that follow the contour of the hill.
• Take in the view from the high ground, where Lyon spreads out below and the setting feels remarkably calm.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 45 minutes to an hour for a slow wander, longer if you like reading inscriptions and looking at the sculpture.
• Check current opening hours before you go, as cemetery access can change with the season.
• Combine it with the Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica, which is within walking distance, and the Parc des Hauteurs that lies between the two.
• Wear comfortable shoes, since the hill is steep, and keep voices low out of respect for visitors who come to remember loved ones.

See it on a quest

The quest Lyon - Fourvière Hill Highlights is a good way to see Loyasse as part of the whole hill rather than as a single detour. You walk to the cemetery as one stop on a longer route through the Fourvière area, the app tells you about each place as you reach it, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.