2020 - A Day in Lyon

A day in Lyon offers only a first impression of the city. Between the Rhône and the Saône, narrow streets open onto broad quays, bridges connect different neighbourhoods, and the hills provide a backdrop to the rooftops. These photographs bring together moments from my visit in 2020.

In Vieux Lyon, the streets run between Renaissance façades, with passages leading into courtyards and through buildings. The traboules are part of this less immediately visible side of the city: behind the street frontage, another set of spaces unfolds. Above the old town, the Basilica of Fourvière remains a point of reference, visible from many parts of Lyon.

Along the rivers, the view opens out. Rows of buildings follow the banks, their colours reflected in the water, while bridges draw lines across the scene. Moving between the enclosed streets and the waterfront changes both the scale of the city and the way it can be photographed.

Food is also part of Lyon’s identity. Traditional bouchons and the stalls of Les Halles de Lyon-Paul Bocuse reflect a culinary culture rooted in local dishes, produce and the pleasure of sitting down to a meal. It belongs to the everyday character of the city as much as its architecture and public spaces.

One day leaves plenty unseen. This gallery is a record of a short visit, with time to look around and enough left over to give a reason to return.