Theatre & Amphitheatre · Roman · France
Roman Theatres of Fourvière
The Ancient Theatre of Fourvière is the Roman theatre of Lugdunum, cut into the hill above Lyon around 15 BC and enlarged to seat about 10,000 people. Its restored tiers, the smaller Odeon beside it and the Lugdunum Museum next door make this the best place in France to see what the capital of Roman Gaul looked like.
Photo: Jean-Christophe BENOIST, CC BY 4.0
Tickets and tours: which to book
There is very little to buy here, because the archaeological park with the Great Theatre and the Odeon is free and open without a ticket. You walk in through the gates on rue Cleberg or from the upper street and sit wherever you like on the tiers, except on days when the stage is being set up for performances. The Lugdunum Museum, built into the hillside next to the theatres, is the only part that charges, and its ticket is modest. It is normally free for children and young people, and there is often a free day for everyone, so check the museum's own page before you go.
Online, only one product for this site appears: a private guided walk with a local guide who meets you on the hill, explains the two theatres and usually continues into the museum or down into Vieux Lyon. It makes sense if you want the Roman city explained in context, since the signs in the park are brief. Many general walking tours of Lyon also pass through the theatres for twenty minutes on their way to the basilica.
In summer the theatre becomes the main stage of the Nuits de Fourviere festival, with concerts, dance and theatre most evenings from early June to late July. Those tickets are sold by the festival and sell out for well-known names.
For most visitors the sensible plan is free: take the funicular up, walk the theatres, then spend an hour or two in the museum.
What to see at Roman Theatres of Fourvière
Great Theatre
Enter at the top of the park and look down over the semicircle of tiers, about 108 metres across in its final form, with the city and on clear days the Alps behind it. The lower rows and stage foundations are original; much of the upper seating was rebuilt in the 20th century. Walk down to the orchestra to see the slot where the curtain was lowered.
Odeon
A few steps south, the Odeon is the smaller roofed hall built for music, readings and lectures, and it seated a few thousand. Its orchestra keeps a floor of coloured marble slabs laid in a geometric pattern, one of the few original surfaces left on the hill. Stand at the top of its tiers to compare the two buildings side by side.
Tickets and tours for Roman Theatres of Fourvière
Live dates and prices from GetYourGuide. Free cancellation on most tickets.
Lugdunum Museum
The museum is sunk into the slope beside the theatres, with windows that look straight out onto the tiers. Inside, a ramp leads down past the bronze Claudian Table, the text of a speech by the emperor Claudius born in Lyon, the Gaulish Coligny calendar, a large mosaic showing a chariot race and altars from the federal sanctuary of the Three Gauls.
Upper terrace and temple remains
Back outside, climb to the terrace above the Great Theatre, where foundations of a large monumental building have been traced. It has long been called a temple of Cybele, although that reading is disputed. From here you understand the layout of the Roman town on the plateau, with the forum once lying further up towards the basilica.
Basilica and Fourviere esplanade
A five-minute walk uphill, the late 19th-century Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere stands roughly where the Roman forum was. The esplanade beside it is the classic viewpoint over the Saone, the Presqu'ile and the Rhone. From the basilica you can take the second funicular, or follow the stepped paths through the Rosary garden, back down to Vieux Lyon.
A short history
Lugdunum was founded in 43 BC by Lucius Munatius Plancus on the hill now called Fourviere and soon became the capital of the Roman province of Gaul. The first theatre, about 90 metres across, was built against the hillside around 15 BC under Augustus, making it one of the oldest in Gaul. Early in the 2nd century a further ring of seating raised its capacity to about 10,000, and the Odeon was added beside it. After the Roman period the stone was quarried and the slope was covered by gardens and convents. Excavation started in earnest in 1933, followed by partial reconstruction of the tiers. The theatres lie within the historic site of Lyon, inscribed by UNESCO in 1998.
Getting there
From the centre of Lyon take metro line D to Vieux Lyon, then the F1 funicular towards Saint-Just and get off at the first stop, Minimes-Theatres Romains. The entrance to the park is a two-minute walk away. The funicular uses standard TCL public transport tickets. On foot, the stepped lanes from Vieux Lyon climb to the theatres in about 15 minutes, which is tiring in summer but rewarding. From Lyon Saint-Exupery airport, the Rhonexpress tram reaches Part-Dieu station in about 30 minutes, and metro line B then links to line D. Driving is not recommended: parking on the hill is scarce, and the Saint-Jean car park in the old town is a better choice.
Rules and what to bring
The tiers are uneven and slippery after rain, so wear shoes with a grip and take the steps slowly, especially going down. Do not climb on the restored stage structures or the fenced original masonry. Drones need city permission. During the festival season parts of the theatre are closed for rehearsals and seating, sometimes from mid-afternoon. There is little shade on the stone, so bring water and a hat in summer. The museum has toilets and a cloakroom; the old town below has plenty of cafes.
When to go
The theatres are at their best in the early morning, when the stone is cool and the light falls across the tiers, or in the hour before the park closes, when the city below turns gold. Midday in July and August is hot, because the bowl faces east and holds the heat. School groups visit the museum on weekday mornings during term time, and cruise and coach groups come up in late morning on their way to the basilica.
May, June and September are the most comfortable months. From early June to late July the Nuits de Fourviere festival fills the theatre most evenings: attending a performance is the best way to understand how the space was meant to work, but daytime visits may find the stage covered with equipment. Winter is quiet and the park is often almost empty, though wet tiers need care. Allow one hour for the two theatres and add two hours if you plan to see the museum properly.
Combine it with
Pair the theatres with the Basilica of Fourviere, five minutes uphill, and then walk down the stepped lanes to the Renaissance streets and covered passages of Vieux Lyon. The cathedral of Saint-Jean is at the bottom of the funicular. On the opposite slope, the Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls lies on the Croix-Rousse hill, about 20 minutes away by metro.
At a glance
| Hours | Theatre park open daily from early morning to evening, later in summer; museum shorter hours |
|---|---|
| Closed | Theatre park open daily; museum closed Mondays and some public holidays |
| Entry fee | Free; the Lugdunum Museum charges a small entry fee |
| Time needed | 1 hour, 2 to 3 with the museum |
| Best time | Early morning or late afternoon; May, June and September |
| Booking | No booking for the theatres; festival nights are ticketed in advance |
| Access | Steep hill and stone tiers with uneven steps; the museum has lifts and step-free access |
| Getting there | F1 funicular from Vieux Lyon to Minimes-Theatres Romains, about 3 minutes, then a short walk |
| Founded | 15 BC (c. 15 BC; enlarged early 2nd century AD) |
| Excavated | 1933 |
| Civilisation | Roman |
| UNESCO | Historic Site of Lyons |
| Checked | October 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
When is Roman Theatres of Fourvière open?
Theatre park open daily from early morning to evening, later in summer; museum shorter hours. Closed: Theatre park open daily; museum closed Mondays and some public holidays.
How much is the entry fee for Roman Theatres of Fourvière?
Entry fee: Free; the Lugdunum Museum charges a small entry fee.
How long do you need at Roman Theatres of Fourvière?
Allow 1 hour, 2 to 3 with the museum for Roman Theatres of Fourvière.
Do I need to book Roman Theatres of Fourvière in advance?
No booking for the theatres; festival nights are ticketed in advance.
Can I book a ticket or tour for Roman Theatres of Fourvière online?
Yes. GetYourGuide lists one ticket or tour for Roman Theatres of Fourvière, with live dates and prices and free cancellation on most of them.
When is the best time to visit Roman Theatres of Fourvière?
Early morning or late afternoon; May, June and September.
How do I get to Roman Theatres of Fourvière?
F1 funicular from Vieux Lyon to Minimes-Theatres Romains, about 3 minutes, then a short walk.
Is Roman Theatres of Fourvière accessible, and what is the terrain like?
Steep hill and stone tiers with uneven steps; the museum has lifts and step-free access.
Is Roman Theatres of Fourvière worth visiting?
Worth it for a free hour on the tiers with a view over Lyon and a strong Roman museum next door. Skip or shorten it if you have already seen the theatres at Orange or Arles and only have a single day in the city.
How old is Roman Theatres of Fourvière?
Roman Theatres of Fourvière dates from 15 BC (c. 15 BC; enlarged early 2nd century AD). Excavations began in 1933.
Is Roman Theatres of Fourvière a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes. Roman Theatres of Fourvière is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Site of Lyons.