The
Presqu’île (
French for "
peninsula") is the heart of
Lyon,
France. Extending from the foot of the
Croix Rousse hill to the confluence of the
Rhône and the
Saône rivers, it has a preponderance of cafés, restaurants, luxury shops, department stores, banks, government buildings, and cultural institutions. The
1st and
2nd arrondissements of the city (as well as the southern part of the
4th) are located here, along with the
Hôtel de Ville (city hall). The spires of the
church of St. Nizier, reconstructed starting in the 14th century, are at the foot of the former Saône river bridge. Though the business center is located to the east in the
3rd arrondissement, road signs pointing to the
centre of the city take drivers to
Place Bellecour in the 2nd.