Lyon

Latest

1. Climate and energy · 7 OCT 2026

   Lyon's first natural swimming site at Confluence confirmed for summer 2027

   The Métropole de Lyon has confirmed the city's plan for a natural swimming site at the Confluence dock, targeting a summer 2027 opening for a roughly 1,500 m² daytime area capped at 300 people.

   Facts and source

   • Métropole president Véronique Sarselli confirmed the continuation of the project, with opening targeted for summer 2027.
   • The site will cover about 1,500 m², and capacity has been capped at 300 people.
   • Nearly 10,000 people answered the city's online consultation.

   Source: Ville de Lyon, “Baignade de Confluence : le projet verra le jour à l'été 27”

   Read with context →

2. Climate and energy · 25 JUN 2026

   Lyon picks operator for ecological transition hub in former fine-arts school

   Lyon has designated the Pali Pali group, working with partners including Greenpeace, to run an ecological transition venue in the former École des Beaux-Arts, a building of nearly 6,000 m² under a €15 million rehabilitation, with works planned for 2027.

   Facts and source

   • The city designated the Pali Pali group to manage and run the future venue in the former École des Beaux-Arts.
   • The rehabilitation programme for the building of nearly 6,000 m² is estimated at €15 million.
   • Works are planned for 2027, with the site opening gradually from 2028.

   Source: Ville de Lyon, “Nouvelle étape pour le site Neyret !”

   Read with context →

3. Mobility · 17 JUN 2026

   Record 17,517 responses to Lyon consultation on car-free rue Grenette

   Lyon's month-long online consultation on rue Grenette drew a record 17,517 respondents, and 72.3% of them favour keeping the Presqu'île street, a public-transport lane used by nearly 90,000 people a day, free of car traffic.

   Facts and source

   • 17,517 people responded, the largest participatory exercise since the platform was created in 2022.
   • The public-transport lane on rue Grenette is used by nearly 90,000 people a day.
   • 72.3% of respondents favour keeping rue Grenette free of car traffic.

   Source: Ville de Lyon, “Consultation rue Grenette : une participation record !”

   Read with context →

4. Mobility · 26 MAY 2026

   Lyon is the only French city to reach the top "4 vélos" cycling label

   Lyon has received the top "4 vélos" level of the "Ville à vélo du Tour de France" label, the only French city at that level among the 25 cities recognised this year, with 81 points in the assessment.

   Facts and source

   • Lyon is the only French city to obtain the maximum "4 vélos" level; 25 cities were recognised this year.
   • Only Lausanne and Vitoria-Gasteiz reached the same level elsewhere in Europe.
   • Lyon scored 81 points in the assessment.

   Source: Ville de Lyon, “La Ville de Lyon labellisée "4 vélos"”

   Read with context →

5. Culture · 4 MAY 2026

   Lyon starts €3.15 million renovation of the Villa Gillet literary centre

   Lyon has begun a €3.15 million renovation of the Villa Gillet literary centre in the Parc de la Cerisaie, with works started in spring 2026 and delivery planned for the end of 2027, including writers' residences in the converted attic.

   Facts and source

   • The total cost of the operation is €3.15 million.
   • Works began in spring 2026 and delivery is planned for the end of 2027.
   • The attic will be converted into offices and writers' residences reached by lift.

   Source: Ville de Lyon, “Rénovation et modernisation de la Villa Gillet”

   Read with context →

City briefs are drafted with AI from official sources; every fact is matched automatically against the source text before publication, without an editor approving it first.

Projects we track

4 projects · 1 completed · 1 under way

• 1. Planned
  2. Funded
  3. Under way
  4. Completed

  Confluence natural swimming site

  A seasonal, supervised swimming area of about 1,500 m² in the Confluence dock, run as a project by SPL Confluence; the Métropole confirmed it on 7 October 2026, with opening targeted for summer 2027.

  Climate and energy

  Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

• 1. Planned
  2. Funded
  3. Under way
  4. Completed

  Neyret site: former fine-arts school turned ecological transition hub

  The city is rehabilitating the former École des Beaux-Arts on the Croix-Rousse slopes to house its archaeology service, a resilience school and a community venue run by the Pali Pali group; works start in 2027 and the site opens gradually from 2028.

  Budget 15 millions d'euros (estimated rehabilitation programme) Funded by Ville de Lyon Regeneration and housing

  Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

• 1. Planned
  2. Funded
  3. Under way
  4. Completed

  Villa Gillet renovation

  Works on the house of contemporary writing in the Parc de la Cerisaie aim to improve energy performance and accessibility and add writers' residences and podcast studios; delivery is planned for the end of 2027.

  Budget 3,15 millions d'euros Funded by Ville de Lyon Culture

  Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

• 1. Planned
  2. Funded
  3. Under way
  4. Completed

  Esplanade Pina-Bausch greening (8th arrondissement)

  The former Place du Bachut in front of the Maison de la Danse has been turned into a cool island with 3,800 m² of new planted areas and 101 trees, in a district short of public green space.

  Funded by Ville de Lyon, in partnership with the Métropole de Lyon Climate and energy

  Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

EU programmes and networks

• Eurocities Eurocities Member city ›
• EU Cities Mission · 2022 EU Mission for 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030 (Mission Label) Mission city; awarded the EU Mission Label in March 2024 after its Climate City Contract was validated ›
• Covenant of Mayors · 2008 Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy Signatory (2050 commitment: mitigation, adaptation, energy poverty) ›
• URBACT · 2023 URBACT: One Health 4 Cities Lead partner of the action planning network ›
• Programme · 2025 European Energy Award Gold level, awarded jointly to the City and the Métropole de Lyon in November 2025 ›

From the archive

• City profile · May 2024 Lyon: Unveiling the Essence of French Lifestyle and Cultural Splendor