25 Best Lyon Murals: Stunning Lyon Street Art You’ll Love

1. Le Mur des Canuts

Le Mur des Canuts is by far my favorite mural in Lyon.

The name means ‘Wall of the Silk Workers’, and you’ll find it in Lyon’s Croix-Rousse neighborhood. It fills an entire wall of a huge building and is actually one of the largest murals in the world!

The Mur des Canuts honors the silk workers of Lyon and is painted to look like a scene straight out of the neighborhood, complete with shops and local residents. It’s so realistic, you’ll do a double take!

What’s cool about this mural is that the artists, CitéCréation, have updated it several times over the years. So, it evolves with the neighborhood!

I think this is one of the best photo spots in Lyon — the pictures are always impressive.

Address: 36 Bd des Canuts

2. Fresque des Lyonnais

The Fresque des Lyonnais is probably the most famous mural in Lyon. This incredible trompe-l’oeil fresco depicts famous residents of Lyon on the balconies of a multi-story building.

See if you can pick out some of these famous people:

• Chef Paul Bocuse (that one is easy, he’s the one wearing the chef’s toque in the restaurant)
• The Lumière brothers (they’re important for their contributions to cinematography)
• Antoine de Saint Exupéry (famous aviator and author of The Little Prince. The Lyon airport is named after him!)

This mural is one of the easiest to find. It’s located right on the banks of the Saône, and you can even spot it from the tour boat when you take a sightseeing Lyon city cruise.

Address: 2 Rue de la Martinière

3.  La Bibliothèque de la Cité 

La Bibliothèque de la Cité, or the Library of the City, is one of my favorites.

It’s only a 5-minute walk south along the quay from the Fresque des Lyonnais, so you can see it even if you have only one day in Lyon!

This mural transforms the 6-story building into a giant library, with books overflowing from the windows.

What I love about these murals is that they are impressive for their overall scope, but also for the intricate realistic details.

Look closely and you may notice that it is filled with books by local writers. (Yes, I Googled a couple of these books, and what is shown here *is* what the covers look like!)

Address: 6 Rue de la Platière

4. Hommage à Tony Tollet

The mural honoring the work of artist Tony Tollet is a work of art in itself. The rich colors of the room and the detailed portraits are amazing.

Chances are, you’ve been close to this mural and haven’t even noticed it! It’s a stone’s throw away from the famous Fresque des Lyonnais.

If you’re standing at the northwest corner looking at the Fresque des Lyonnais — just turn around to spot this vibrant example of Lyon’s street art.

Address: 7 Rue Pareille

5. Thank You Monsieur Paul

If you’re a foodie, you probably know that Paul Bocuse is one of the most famous Lyon chefs (and one of the most famous people from Lyon!).

This mural honors Bocuse’s contributions to the cuisine of Lyon through his signature restaurants.

You’ll find it just across the street from the incredible gourmet food market that bears his name, Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. (There are several market entrances — this one is across from the entrance on Cr. Lafayette.)

If you’re in the area at night, be sure to watch for the video that plays across this mural!

Address: 103 Cr Lafayette

6. Cité Idéale Québécoise

This mural, titled ‘The Ideal City of Quebec’ is one of the most interesting and creative pieces of Lyon street art.

It’s one of several murals you can find in the Quartier des Etats-Unis (United States neighborhood). It’s a little bit far from most of the main Lyon attractions, but it’s worth it if you love murals and street art.

When I saw this colorful mural, the first thing I thought of was the cartoon movie ‘Peter Pan’, due to the flying canoe and what looks like a pirate ship.

And then I noticed the fainter building in the background, which reminded me of my trip to Quebec City — it looks a lot like the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac!)

Address: 42 Rue Paul Cazeneuve

7. Fresque d’Eglise Saint Just

This mural was an unexpected find as I was exploring Lyon. (That’s why it’s important to keep your eyes open — murals are everywhere in Lyon!)

I was on my way back towards Vieux Lyon after finding the last of the Lyon Roman ruins on my list, the Tombeau de Turpio. You’ll find this mural at the entrance to the Taurobole Garden, not at the Eglise St. Just.

This fresque is painted to look like an ancient map of a medieval city as drawn on a scroll or parchment.

While you’re here, take in the views from the scenic overlook at the edge of the garden. (Although the views aren’t as good as the ones from the Jardin des Curiosities or the esplanade at the Notre Dame de Fourvière Basilica.)

Address: 9 Rue des Macchabées

8. Fresque Lumière 

The Fresque Lumière is about as far (artistically speaking) from the Fresque d’Eglise Saint-Just as you can get!

While the previous mural had a medieval flair, the Fresque Lumière is a journey into the future. It shows a prediction of what the city of Lyon will look like in the year 2046.

If you view it at night, you’ll be amazed at the illumination. Optical fibers and diodes are embedded in the paint and light up this fresco from dusk until midnight.

Note: I found this area of town to be a little sketchy, as there were a lot of homeless people living in a nearby underpass. So be sure to be aware of your surroundings and if you want to see the mural at night, go in a group.

Address: 106 Avenue Jean Jaurès

9. Cour des Loges

I was surprised that there aren’t many murals located in the historic neighborhood of Vieux Lyon.

The Cour des Loges fresco is one of Lyon’s hidden gems. The easiest way to find it is to look for the René Nardone ice cream shop. This mural decorates the building wall over the shop.

It’s also partially hidden behind the sprawling branches of some trees, making it even harder to see unless you’re really paying attention.

This mural blends right in with the courtyards and traboules of Old Lyon, depicting a tower and arched galleries surrounding a central courtyard. It’s painted mostly in shades of ochre and brown, much like the real buildings in Vieux Lyon.

Address: 3 Pl. Ennemond Fousseret (Above the René Nardone ice cream shop)

10. Espace Diego Rivera

There are two murals on opposite sides of the Espace Diego Rivera. My eye was drawn to the bright colors of this fresco. These murals are a tribute to famous painter Diego Rivera and tell stories of Mexico’s history.

Even on a rainy day in Lyon, the vibrant yellows and reds really pop!

(Diego Rivera is considered one of the greatest Mexican artists of the 20th century, and is credited with re-popularizing large scale mural art. Fun fact: He was married to another famous Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo.)

Address: 25 Rue Georges Gouy, 69007 Lyon, France

11. Tower of Babel (#1)

The Tower of Babel Murals are quite interesting. It is a series of three frescoes on adjacent buildings, where this biblical tower is painted in the styles of different artists.

The leftmost mural is my favorite. It’s painted in the style of Nicolas de Crécy, a graphic artist from Lyon.

I love how the mural wraps around two sides of the building and embellishes the balconies.

When I went fresco-hunting in the Quartier des Etats-Unis, I started off with this set of murals and then followed the Boulevard des Etats-Unis.

Address: Place Mendès

12. Tower of Babel (#2)

The central mural in the trio of ‘La Tour de Babel’ fresques is very modern looking. When I saw it, I immediately thought of the modern architecture of the Musée des Confluences.

Address: Place Mendès

13. Tower of Babel (#3)

Finally, we come to the third Tower of Babel mural (the one furthest to the right).

This mural is a large-scale replica of a work Pieter Bruegel the Elder (which is displayed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna).

I’m not sure why this artist was chosen, as I can’t find much information that ties him to Lyon. I did locate a reference to him painting a landscape of Lyon, France — but that’s about it.

Address: Place Mendès

14. Ville de Lyon Construction

This Lyon mural is another one I found rather by accident. I spotted it down the road from another mural (the Cité Idéale Québécoise), and took a closer look.

It’s just called ‘Fresque #2’ in Google– not very descriptive! So I had to come up with a name for it myself. I’m calling it ‘Ville de Lyon Construction’ — as that’s what the sign on the mural says.

This is actually a really interesting mural depicting the history and people of Lyon. The lowest level is brightest and shows modern Lyon residents in the neighborhood.

As you look upwards, you see different timeframes depicted in different shades, with the people in old-fashioned clothes engaged in scenes relevant to that era.

Address: 7-3 Rue Ludovic Arrachart

15. Soleil

This street art in Lyon is another surprise find.

As I was heading back to the metro station from checking out the murals at Espace Diego Rivera, I saw the bright orange flowers of this mural.

Since I had two weeks in Lyon, I had plenty of time to go off the beaten path and get a closer look!

This street art is titled ‘Soleil (Blinded by the Light)’ and was created by INTI, a street artist from Chile. The orange and violet colors in this art are INTI’s signature colors.

Address: 35 Av. Debourg (on the building housing a Pizza Cosy, on the corner of Avenue Debourg and Rue Marcel Merieux)

16. Fresque de Shanghai

This colorful street art is one of the many frescoes in Lyon’s USA neighborhood.

The artwork covers two sides of the building. The side facing the Boulevard des États-Unis is understated, with stylized oriental figures (think dragons and lions) on a red background.

The more impressive part of the mural is the side of the building that faces Rue Villon. It definitely adds a pop of color to the neighborhood!

Address: 23 Boulevard des États-Unis

17. Musée Urbain Tony Garnier

The Tony Garnier Urban Museum mural showcases the architecture of (you guessed it) Tony Garnier.

The surrounding neighborhood with its many murals is the Tony Garnier Urban Museum. (There are at least 5 large-scale murals within a one block radius of this one!)

You can get a histoguide to learn about these murals as you explore the neighborhood (it’s free if you purchase a Lyon City Card). On Saturdays, you can join a guided walk. Learn more about the architect and even visit a 1930’s apartment.

Address: 4 Rue des Serpollières

18. Fresque de Gerland

If you’re a sports fan, you’ll appreciate the Fresque de Gerland!

One of the many murals of Gerland, this fresco is a celebration of France and its 1998 World Cup victory. It includes scenes of a locker room looking out onto a soccer field — and don’t miss the trophy in the upper left!

You’ll find it on the edge of the Parc de Gerland, just a stone’s throw from the Matmut Stadium.

Address: 18 All. Pierre de Coubertin

19. La Sarra

This set of murals is a bit hard to find, but one you find them, you can appreciate that the whole complex is painted with trompe-l’oeil frescoes!

You can find these buildings just across from Cimetière de Loyasse. Head east on Rue Pauline-Marie Jaricot and keep your eyes open! Each building is painted with different facade styles.

Since I love classical statues, my favorite section is the one shown above. The large building has been painted to look like a set of smaller buildings. The small ochre-colored one sports two faux niches with statues.

There aren’t many tourist attractions in this area — the closest one is the Gallo-Roman theater and museum, which is about a 10 minute walk.

Address: 32 Rue Pauline-Marie Jaricot

20. Ameublement Saint-Vincent

This fresco is just a fun one. From the Fresque des Lyonnais, follow Quai Saint-Vincent northwest for a minute, and you’ll find this quirky mural.

It’s right next to the restaurant ‘Le Grand Liban’, and across the road from the actual furniture store that serves as the subject of this art.

I’m *pretty sure* they don’t keep a lion in the furniture store!

Address: Rue Tavernier (right next to Le Grand Liban, 44 Quai Saint-Vincent)

21.  Marché aux Vaches

Here’s another of the many murals in Lyon’s USA neighborhood, just a stone’s throw from the Tony Garnier Urban Museum.

This mural depicts Halle Tony Garnier. Today, it is a majestic venue used as a concert hall. But it was originally built and used as a cattle market, like in the scene you see here.

My eyes keep getting drawn upwards by the lattice-like roof beams shining in the rays of light from the hall’s massive windows.

Address: 9 Rue des Serpollières

22. Stade pour les Sports Athlétiques

This mural depicts a sports stadium in the city of Lyon.

It’s an interesting combination of styles:

• an architectural drawing of the stadium at the top
• a view of stairs and the entries to the stadium
• a fresco-style depiction of a man running (as if you were making the images into a cartoon flip book to see him running)

It’s just across the street from the previous mural on my list (the Marché aux Vaches) in the Quartier des Etats-Unis.

Address: 7 Rue des Serpollières

23. Fresque au Civil Inconnu

This fresque honors the Unknown Civilian. The work was created and donated to Handicap International by street artist Brusk.

The purpose of the mural is to denounce the bombing of civilians.

On first glance, I just saw a young girl skipping rope. But when you look more closely, you see she is playing on a target, and there are partially demolished buildings in the background.

This is definitely a somber and thought-provoking mural.

Address: 51 Bd des États-Unis

24. Jean Macé Murals

If you happen to be catching the train from the Jean Macé train station in Lyon, take a moment to find this set of murals!

Follow along Avenue Berthelot and you’ll find two sets of murals, a set of 12 on either side of Avenue Jean Jaurès. (That’s a lot of murals!)

These murals depict scenes of Lyon’s history.

Address: Pl. Jean Macé (along Avenue Berthelot)