The archiepiscopal palace of Lyon, also known as the Saint-Jean palace, is located in the 5th arrondissement of town, next to the cathedral on the banks of the Saône.
It was built from the thirteenth century on the foundations of a previous building that had already described in his time Grégoire de Tours (sixth century).
However, from the 13th to the 15th century, the bishops of Lyon under the leadership of Renaud de Forez settled not far from there at the Château de Pierre-Scize. The kings of France drove them out in 1446 and Archbishop Charles de Bourbon then decided to take back the Palais Saint-Jean as their seat.
This entails renovation work and according to the fashion of the time, the style of the First Renaissance (comparable in certain aspects to the late Gothic) is thus visible at the level of the facade overlooking the current avenue Adolphe Max and of the staircase tower. From then on, over the centuries and major events (notably the arrival of the kings of France in the city), the palace was enlarged and embellished: fitting out of galleries and libraries, for example, in the 16th and then in the 17th century.
In contemporary times, other works are carried out because of the new assignments of the site.
The palace in fact housed the meetings of the Académie des sciences et belles-lettres from 1717 then, from the beginning of the 20th century, the municipal archives were transferred there (the latter must be the subject of a new shift). We also note that the part of the palace dedicated to the old choir school houses the offices of the current Diocesan Directorate of Catholic Education.
The courtyard and its porticoes add to the nobility of the palace, obviously protected as historical monuments, even if its massive appearance may be surprising.
During one-off events such as Heritage Days, interior tours are offered. Otherwise, the exteriors are to be admired after exploring the cathedral, for example.
Information on +33 4 72 77 69 69.
