It is located below the hill of Croix-Rousse and on the north part of the Presqu'île formed by the Saône and the Rhône, the two rivers in Lyon.

This zone is served by the metro lines and .

Les pentes (the slopes Croix-Rousse, which were situated in the Franc-Lyonnais, are integrated to the city of Lyon since 1512, when Louis XII decided to build a fortification on the top of the hill Saint-Sébastien (name of Croix-Rousse in the Middle Ages) to defend the city.

Around the place des Terreaux, bars and pubs across the street make the 1st arrondissement one of the more animated the night and days.

The 1st arrondissement of Lyon is composed of four districts : The city hall is managed since 2001 by Nathalie Perrin-Gilbert (Parti socialiste).