Lyon - Place des Terreaux

In Lyons, the Place des Terreaux is built over a Roman canal, and gets its name from the earth (terre) used to fill it up. In the square is a monumental fountain by F.-A. Bartholdi (1834-1904) representing the rivers flowing into the ocean. During the French Revolution the guillotine was set up in this square. On its east side is the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), built between 1646 and 1672 and rebuilt in Baroque style by Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1700 after a fire. It has a main front richly decorated with sculpture, two courtyards separated by a graceful intermediate wing with three arches, and a 50 m/165ft high tower. The rear of the building looks on to the Place de la Comédie, in which is the Grand Théâtre (19th C.).