Clocher de la Charité

Place Bellecour is one of the significant landmarks here in Lyon but there is surprisingly little to see in this huge square. There weren’t any trees here so it is difficult to describe it as a park either. There were statues and even ferris wheels which are set up here on a seasonal basis. Otherwise, there isn’t much to see. It is at a very good location near some high end shopping streets. I didn’t bother going to those streets since I won’t be buying anything from them anyway. Most of the pedestrian traffic is actually along the periphery of the square.

There was a rather prominent tower on south eastern corner of the square. This is named Clocher de la Charité or Bell Tower of Charity. This tower was apparently part of a large hospital complex which was build where the current post office is. As the name implies, the hospital is a charity hospital and helped a lot of poor people back in the day. The structure was never meant to be a grand structure which probably contributed to the decision to demolish it in the early 1900s. The hospital services were transferred to another hospital but the bell tower was saved from demolition. The Clocher de la Charité is a reminder of a days past where this place was one which helped a lot of people.