Palace Exchange in Lyon is recognized as one of the most beautiful buildings of the city, and a symbol of economic prosperity of the city, which peaked in the nineteenth century. The Palace stands on the square of Cordillera in the quarter of the Presqu'ile.

The exterior of the building combines the features of two architectural styles – Baroque and classicism. Its construction began in the mid-nineteenth century and lasted four years. Builders decorated the facades of the building columns and balconies, ornaments, carved in stone, and statues representing Justice, Temperance, Commerce, Industry, Agriculture. The facade of the Palace is adorned with a bas-relief work of Valmara where the saône and rhône depicted as men and women. The author of the project was the architect rené Dardel. The opening ceremony was attended by the Emperor Napoleon III and his wife, the Empress Eugenie.

Initially, the Palace was planned to offer, in addition to the exchange, several commercial and cultural institutions – the Museum, ateliers, shops, the chamber of Commerce. In the entire history of the Palace, it housed the Bank of Lyon, the society of merchants of silk, the commercial court, now here is the chamber of Commerce. From the interior of the Palace is worth noting the painting of the great hall, made by painters Lyon.

Palace Exchange also went down in history as the site of the assassination of French President Sadi Carnot, who spoke from the steps of the Palace with a solemn speech at the opening of the exhibition. In 1894, President Carnot was attacked with a knife by the Italian anarchist and mortally wounded him. Carnot died a few months before the end of his term, he was a very popular political figure and could be elected President again.