Lyon
Fourvière and Croix-Rousse by bike: the climbs compared
Lyon has two hills, and both can be ridden from Place Bellecour in under an hour: the basilica of Fourvière and the Croix-Rousse plateau, plus the Col de Trion behind Fourvière. None of these rides uses busier roads, but they climb on ordinary city streets and are steep in places.
The 3 rides side by side
| Ride | Distance | Climbing | Bike paths & quiet streets | Busier roads | Steepest 500 m | Riding time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fourvière | 4.5 km | 131 m | 31% | 0% | 8.1% | 20–25 min |
| Croix-Rousse | 5.8 km | 107 m | 45% | 0% | 6.2% | 20–25 min |
| Col de Trion | 4.5 km | 111 m | 29% | 0% | 8.1% | 20–25 min |
Distances are the whole ride, there and back (km). Riding time is our estimate at a sporty pace and counts the climbing; allow more for stops.
Each ride
1 Lyon to Fourvière
- Main climb 123 m over 1.8 km, 6.8% average
- On the way: café, viewpoint
On the way: 2 toilets, 7 cafés mapped.
2 Lyon to Croix-Rousse
- Along the water for 2 km
- Main climb 90 m over 2.05 km, 4.4% average
- On the way: café, drinking water, viewpoint
On the way: 4 toilets, 6 water points, 28 cafés mapped.
3 Lyon to Col de Trion
- Main climb 104 m over 1.9 km, 5.5% average
- On the way: café, viewpoint, drinking water
On the way: 3 toilets, 2 water points, 9 cafés mapped.
How we chose them
From every ride we publish around Lyon, these are the ones that meet all of:
- up to 8 km in all
- at least 75 m of climbing
- none of the distance on busier roads
The numbers come from OpenStreetMap and terrain data, measured along each route by our engine (how rides are made). They are modelled, not checked on the ground, and say nothing about who should ride them: you know your riders best.
Before you go
- Less than half of each ride is on bike paths or the quietest streets: the rest is ordinary streets. There are no busier roads.
- Riding times are for an unassisted sporty rider; we do not model e-bike times.
Questions
How steep is the climb to Fourvière by bike?
On our route the steepest 500 m is 8.1%, and the whole ride climbs 131 m.
More rides around Lyon
Route data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: Mapzen Terrarium. Catalogue lyon-58eeab38ca3bfa2bfa12.