About
This vast, 105-hectare park à l'anglaise is one of Lyon's most beautiful green spaces, with a lovely lake, a world-renowned botanical garden (the largest in France), a six-hectare zoo and spectacular rose gardens. In summer, try boating on the lake or visit a legendary Guignol puppet show, performed at the Place de Guignol.

Legend has it that this park is named for the golden head of Christ that is hidden somewhere on site. Unbelievable? Well, so is this park that covers more than 105 hectares and has a zoo, a 5-hectare rose garden and enormous greenhouses filled with exotic species—not to mention a mysterious island! This park is considered to be the "lung" of Lyon and is so popular that sometimes during weekends, joggers, families with push chairs and cyclists have trouble finding enough space. Admission is free.

The park boasts four rose gardens. The most spectacular, La Roseraie Internationale de Lyon, stretches for five hectares and displays 30,000 roses and 350 varieties. There is also a collection of wild roses, while the rose garden in the Botanical Gardens retraces the history of the rose. The International Competition of New Roses is held each year in the Roseraie de Concours (competition rose garden).

The decision to give a park to the citizens of Lyon was made by the city's prefect and mayor in 1856 and the brothers Eugène and Denis Buhler began work in 1857. It took five hard years of labour to bring the park to life, although some of its most beautiful features predate its creation - such as the 300-year old trees, the largest of which are 40 metres high.

There are seven points of entry to the park, but the most spectacular, the Enfants du Rhône gate, offers stunning lake views.

History
On February 22, 1856, in a meeting of the city council, Senator Vaïsse, Prefect and Mayor of Lyon, convinced his fellow members of the board that the people of Lyon needed a new and vast leisure ground. The Tête d'Or domain 105 hectares (262 acres) was subsequently purchased from the Lyon Hospices.

Open Hours
Apr-Sep: 6a-11p daily