The ships displaced 5,121 tonnes (5,040 long tons) and had a draught of 8.45 metres (27 ft 9 in) at deep load.

[2] Upon completion Ville de Lyons was armed with thirty-four 30-pounder 163 mm (6.4 in) rifled muzzle-loading (RML) guns on the lower gundeck and thirty-four 30-pounder smoothbore cannon on the upper gundeck.

On the quarterdeck and forecastle were a dozen 30-pounder cannon and a pair of 163 mm MLR guns.

She took part in the Second French intervention in Mexico, and upon her return to France, became a school ship in Brest.

[2] After the Paris Commune, Ville de Lyon was used as a prison hulk in Brest.