Île Barbe at a glance

It is an island in the Saône, in the Saint-Rambert-l'Île-Barbe district of Lyon's 9th arrondissement. An abbey was founded there in the 5th century: the first monastic house in the Lyon region. You reach it on foot or by bike over an 1827 suspension bridge.

Its name is said to come from the Latin insula barbara, "the wild island". Today, a few people live there. Part of it is open to walk around freely; the rest remains private.

History of the abbey

The abbey was one of the most powerful in Lyon. Founded in the 5th century, enriched by Charlemagne and looted several times, it was devastated in 1562. Remains survive in the hamlet, along with the 12th-century church of Notre-Dame.

  • 3rd century: according to the City of Lyon, two hermits, Stephanus and Peregrinus, took refuge there to escape persecution and founded a small church.
  • 5th century: the abbey was founded, the first monastic house in the Lyon region.
  • Carolingian period: Charlemagne gave it a fine library.
  • 676, 725 and 945: the monastery was looted.
  • 9th century: it adopted the Rule of Saint Benedict.
  • 1562: the abbey was devastated and burnt by Protestant troops.
  • 1827: the suspension bridge was built, at the southern tip of the island.

The residents later reused the stones for their own houses. The 12th-century church of Notre-Dame is roughly all that remains of the abbey, according to the Lyon tourist office. Sold after the Revolution as national property, it is being restored by the association Les Amis de l'Île Barbe.

What you can visit, and what stays private

The public part is open to explore freely: a promenade, a large lawn, pétanque courts and a children's play area. The private part, which is lived in, cannot be visited. The abbey remains can be seen from the paths of the hamlet.

  • Public part: promenade, lawn, pétanque, play area.
  • Private part: impasse Saint-Loup, which runs alongside the Auberge and ends in a courtyard closed by a gate, and chemin du Bas-Port, which leads down to the Saône. The two paths do not meet.
  • Notre-Dame church: no visiting hours published by the tourist office. Information on 04 78 83 98 51.
  • Island opening hours: neither the City of Lyon nor the tourist office publishes opening hours.
  • Where to eat: the Auberge de l'Île Barbe, a fine-dining restaurant, is on the island.

For the best overall view, the City of Lyon recommends the Caluire bank: quai Clemenceau and montée Castellane. In summer, "les Dimanches de l'île Barbe" (Sundays on Île Barbe) offer street theatre and jazz, classical and world music concerts. The Y Salsa festival takes place in late June.

Access: a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists only

You reach the island by its suspension bridge, the oldest in the Métropole. It has been closed to cars since November 2020 and is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. Only residents can drive in, from the right bank.

  • Bridge: built in 1827, it links the island to Saint-Rambert and Caluire-et-Cuire.
  • Rebuilding: in 2021, the Métropole de Lyon announced an identical rebuild, with initial works planned for 2025 and lasting eighteen months to two years. Check the state of the works before you come.
  • Public transport: the island is served by TCL and Vélo'v bike-share stations, according to the City of Lyon.
  • Car: drivers are asked to use the Bocuse and Schuman bridges.

Combining Île Barbe with a walk along the Rives de Saône

The island marks the end of the first section of the Rives de Saône, a pedestrian promenade laid out by the Métropole on the left bank. It starts at the Confluence and reaches the island after quai Gillet, along a very green path through Caluire.

  • Total length: 15 km of landscaped riverside between the Confluence and Rochetaillée-sur-Saône, in two sections.
  • First section: from the Confluence to the island.
  • Second section: from Fontaines-sur-Saône to Rochetaillée-sur-Saône.
  • Art along the way: around twenty works from the River Movie project, including Tadashi Kawamata's wooden pontoons on quai Saint-Vincent and his viewing tower in Fontaines-sur-Saône.
  • Guinguettes: the guinguette (riverside café) promenade in Rochetaillée-sur-Saône, 10 km from Lyon, follows a towpath dotted with beaches and picnic areas, according to La Voie Bleue.

The full route is on the tourist office's Rives de Saône page. Our other ideas are gathered on the walks around Lyon page, for example the Mont Cindre and Mont Thou hike.

Staying at Effet Lodge, on the Monts d'Or side

Effet Lodge is a guest house and gîte in Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or, 8 km from the centre of Lyon, at the foot of the Monts d'Or. After a day by the Saône, you come back to peace and quiet, the garden and the pool.

  • Our guest rooms with a pool: 5 air-conditioned rooms with a private shower room.
  • The gîte for 6 people: 115 m², 3 bedrooms with bathrooms.
  • Solar-heated 15 × 4 m pool, from spring to September depending on the weather.
  • "Les Ormes" bus stop a few metres away: lines 20 or 71 to Gare de Vaise, then metro D.
  • 4 private parking spaces on site.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the abbey?

Only remains and the 12th-century church of Notre-Dame are left. The remains can be seen from the paths of the hamlet. No visiting hours for the church are published: call 04 78 83 98 51 for information.

Is the whole island open to the public?

No. The public part (promenade, lawn, pétanque, play area) is open to all. Impasse Saint-Loup and chemin du Bas-Port are private, and the island is lived in.

Can you get there by car?

No, except for residents. The suspension bridge has been closed to cars since November 2020 and is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists, according to the Métropole de Lyon.