Lyon, France – Here’s a cool thing in Lyon: a series of public murals that depict various elements of Lyonnais history and culture. Several of these are painted as trompe-l’oeil, so it’s hard to tell where the painting stops and reality begins. Here are few of the most interesting frescoes in Lyon that I discovered in my wanderings.
One of the best known frescoes in Lyon is right near our apartment. The beloved Fresque des Lyonnais depicts famous Lyonnais people throughout history, including Antoine de Saint-Exupéry of The Little Prince fame, the Lumière brothers, and Michelin-starred chef Paul Bocuse.
… and some other famous people you might recognize.
Just a few blocks on the other direction, I stumbled on the La bibliothèque de la cité, or the Library of the City. It looks like a bookstore on the ground floor. But covering the upper floors, the mural depicts an enormous bookcase, containing hundreds of titles by Lyonnais and Rhône-Alpes authors.
The original mural – Le Mur des Canutes, aka Wall of the silk-weavers – is gigantic. Apparently it is the largest mural in Europe! (Just a portion captured in the photo.) I love this one because it looks like a very real contemporary street scene.
Complete with capoeiristas!
