The Gare de Lyon invites you to discover its treasures during the Heritage Days 2026 in Paris. This weekend of September 19-20, 2026, we take the opportunity to tour this station listed as a historic monument and the emblematic spaces it houses. A wonderful occasion for railway enthusiasts as well as heritage lovers to glimpse the inner workings of this site with its stunning architecture.
What would the Gare de Lyon be without its famous clock looming over the 12th arrondissement of Paris and watching over travelers? This renowned clock tower rises to 67 meters, tall enough to make some heads spin. Another gargantuan stat: the clock faces span a full 6.5 meters in diameter! There’s no way this station would go unnoticed by travelers coming from or heading to southeastern France.
Another famous spot at Gare de Lyon is the Train Bleu. Formerly known as the Buffet de la Gare, this listed restaurant has been delighting customers and visitors ever since its creation in 1901. Even today, it plunges us into the heart of Belle Époque Paris. Why not make a stopover there this weekend?
SNCF Group: Guided tour of the Clock Tower at Paris' Gare de Lyon
The Clock Tower at Gare de Lyon has dominated Place Louis-Armand in Paris for 125 years.
You are exceptionally invited to climb its 370 steps to reach the summit, 61 meters high: through the numerous documents on display on each floor you’ll uncover the secrets of the clock that, in 1900, was the second-largest clock in the world…
Participation rules : Limited to 17 participants per slot. Registration opens on September 3 at 12:00 PM. - Free | Reservation required - https://patrimoine.sncf.com/
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 6:45 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 6:45 PM
Restoration work at Paris-Gare de Lyon. SNCF Gares & Connexions on the job as the historic façade is set to regain its former appearance
The main façade of Gare de Lyon is undergoing a sweeping restoration campaign. This project will be the centerpiece of an exceptional event organized on Saturday, September 19, as part of the SNCF European Heritage Days.
Step behind the scenes of this large-scale operation!
Beyond routine maintenance and the upgrade to current safety standards, the core mission of SNCF Gares & Connexions is to restore the façade to its original look, as imagined by architect Marius Toudoire at the dawn of the 1900 Universal Exposition. The project thus frames itself not only as a restoration site but as a “restitution,” notes Jérémy LEROUYER, project director at SNCF Gares & Connexions.
"Some architectural elements disappeared in the late 1940s, notably decorative zinc crests and a monumental heraldic shield. After World War II, there were restoration needs that SNCF lacked the financial, material, or human resources to undertake. Priority was given to the Reconstruction" of the stations.
These elements will be reinstated at the end of the restoration thanks to meticulous archival work and the collaboration of Denis REDOUTEY, a historian specializing in railway heritage.
As Coralie BUCHART, project manager for AREP, explains, "the monumental sculptures and bas-reliefs on the façade capture the industrial era, its technological advances in transportation, and the travel motif in a style of Art Nouveau that draws on traditional iconography and symbolism."
The work on the Diderot façade mobilized 19 different trades with exceptional craftsmen, some of whom have tended to Notre-Dame de Paris.
Come meet the project teams and the artisans currently working behind a monumental 10-story scaffold: stonemasons, slate workers, mosaicists...
Most of them are or have been Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France.
Join us on the main forecourt of the station, where the information stand will be at the foot of the scaffolding.
Participation rules: Access to the stand is limited to 20 people per 15-minute window: the visit lasts 30 minutes in total. The program is available at patrimoine.sncf.com — Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Dates and Opening Time
On September 19, 2026
Location
Gare de Lyon
Place Louis Armand
75012 Paris 12
Route planner
Prices
Free
