Abbaye de l'Île Barbe

Lyon

A tranquil island on the Saône where the shades of monks cross paths with an old memory of pagan sacrifices.

Set on an island in the Saône now attached to the 9th arrondissement of Lyon, the abbey of Île Barbe counts among the oldest monastic establishments in France, born of a hermitage before becoming an organised abbey as early as the 5th century. It reached its height under the Carolingians and again from the 12th century, its influence spreading over the whole Lyon region. Substantial Romanesque remains survive, including a remarkable refectory doorway adorned with a Christ in Majesty trampling a lion and a dragon, flanked by angels crushing serpents, beneath the inscription "Ego Sum Lux Mundi". Nationalised at the Revolution and then sold, the buildings today house rowing clubs, and the site has inspired painters and strollers since the 18th century.

Getting there : Remains largely on private property with restricted access; island part of the 9th arrondissement of Lyon since 1963; surroundings reachable by a pedestrian footbridge from Saint-Rambert.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound