Metallic Tower of Fourvière
Tower in Lyon
The Tour métallique de Fourvière (Metallic Tower of Fourvière) is one of Lyon’s most distinctive landmarks, often compared to the Eiffel Tower due to its similar lattice-style steel structure. Built between 1892 and 1894, it stands 101 meters tall today, a height increased from its original 85.9 meters following the addition of a TV broadcasting antenna. Weighing in at 210 tons, it was constructed as part of the city’s embrace of modern engineering and innovation.
During the 1914 Exposition Universelle in Lyon, the tower featured a restaurant and an elevator that could carry up to 22 visitors to the top, making it a popular observation point. It remained open to the public until November 1, 1953, after which it was closed and repurposed exclusively as a television transmission tower. Though no longer accessible inside, the tower still stands proudly above the city on the Fourvière hill, marking the highest point in Lyon at 372 meters above sea level.
The Metallic Tower of Fourvière appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Lyon!
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Visiting Metallic Tower of Fourvière
Not open for public visits
Nearby Attractions
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Square in Lyon
