Hotels near Fourvière Roman Theatres (Théâtres Romains)

A few hundred metres downhill from the basilica sits the oldest Roman theatre in France, built into the Fourvière hillside around 15 BCE under Emperor Augustus and later expanded to seat 10,000 spectators. A smaller Odeon theatre from the 2nd century CE lies beside it, along with the foundations of a temple to the imperial cult and stretches of Roman road still bearing chariot ruts. The site is open-air and free to enter every day. Adjacent to the ruins, the Lugdunum Museum (formerly Musée Gallo-Romain) is buried into the hillside so you barely notice it from outside; inside, a spiral concrete ramp leads past mosaics, bronze tablets recording the speech of Emperor Claudius to the Roman Senate, and gladiator artefacts. Museum admission is EUR 4 for adults, free on the first Sunday of the month. Every summer in June and July the theatre hosts the Nuits de Fourvière festival, with concerts and dance performances staged in the ancient auditorium.

Pro Tip: Walk down from the basilica rather than taking the funicular back - the Chemin du Rosaire is a stepped garden path passing the theatres on the way to Vieux Lyon, cutting out a ticket and adding some of the best free viewpoints in the city. Wear grippy shoes as the stones can be slick after rain.