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Lyon is France's second city, one of France's oldest cities, and is reputed as the gourmet capital of France. It's large historic centre, Le Vieux Lyon, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is the largest ensemble of Renaissance buildings in Europe.
- Musée Des Beaux Arts
- Quartier Saint-Jean and Quartier Saint-Georges
- Musée de La Civilisation gallo-romaine
- Gourmet Restaurants, Culinary Boutiques, and Cooking Classes
- Colline de La Croix-Rousse
- Presqu'île District
- Musée Des Tissus et Des Arts Décoratifs
- Centre D'histoire de La Résistance et de La Déportation
- Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière
- Cathédrale Saint-Jean Baptiste
The impressive cultural heritage of Lyon is evidenced in this Musée des Beaux-Arts, considered the next best fine arts museum in France after the Louvre. At the Place des Terreaux near the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), the museum occupies the 17th-century Abbaye Royale des Dames de Saint-Pierre(Royal Abbey of the Sisters of Saint-Pierre). This museum...
Lyon's atmospheric Quartier Saint-Jean is the place to discover the old-world ambience of Vieux Lyon. This medieval quarter north of the cathedral is filled with narrow cobblestone lanes and quiet little courtyards. Begin exploring around Rue du Boeuf and the Place Neuve Saint-Jean, a picturesque square filled with traditional restaurants. Then wan...
Lyon stands on the site of the ancient Roman city called Lugdunum, founded in 43 BC, which was the capital of Gaul. The Museum of Gallo-Roman Civilization (Museum of Archaeology) displays Gallo-Roman-era objects including vases, gravestones, mosaics, statues, coins, and ceramics. The antiquities presented in the museum's exhibits are from onsite di...
Lyon is widely considered the capital of French gastronomy. While visiting Lyon, one should definitely indulge in the famous regional cuisine. The local cooking features hearty dishes such as steak, lamb stew, roast chicken with morels, and poached eggs in red wine sauce. The most unique culinary specialty is something known as "quenelles," a type ...
Built on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse hillside, this historic neighborhood was an important center of weaving in the early 19th-century. Because of the high gradient of the streets, there are many charming curves and staircases. The most unique aspect of the neighborhood is its collection of traboules, covered passageways that run through courtya...
Lyon's Presqu'île district is a piece of land, sort of like an island, within the river. This neighborhood is distinguished by its beautiful architecture and monumental town squares. The Place des Terreauxis worth visiting just to see the fountain by F.A. Bartholdi. This grandiose work of art depicts the triumphal chariot of the Garonne River. Noti...
Housed in an 18th-century mansion are two superb museums: the Fabric Museum and the Museum of Decorative Arts. The Musée des Tissus(Fabric Museum) is a unique museum that allows visitors to discover the fascinating history of Lyon's silk trade, dating back to the Renaissance period. The collection includes rare fragments of clothing from the 13th a...
During the Second World War, Lyon was known as the "Capital of the Resistance" because of the strength of its struggle against the Nazi regime. The Resistance and Deportation History Centre is housed in the building that was used by the Head of the Gestapo in Lyon. This building is now dedicated to the remembrance of the victims who were held in th...
In a majestic location on the Colline de Fourvière (the hill that overlooks Vieux Lyon), the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière rises to a height of 130 meters above the Saône River. The Basilica is accessible by funiculars running up the hill. This stunning church was built after the Franco-Prussian War (between 1872 and 1884) when the people of Ly...
Built in the 12th-century, the magnificent Cathedral of Saint-John is renowned for its 13th- to 14th-century stained-glass windows. The large rose window dating from 1392 allows in a kaleidoscope of colorful light. The cathedral is mainly Romanesque with a Late Gothic facade. One of the most interesting features is the astronomical clock created by...
- Courtney Traub
- 04 72 10 30 30
- 69006 Lyon, France
- Discover Vieux Lyon (Old Town) Address. Vieux Lyon, 69005 Lyon, France. Get directions. Any first visit should ideally begin in Vieux Lyon, or Old Town. Dating to the early medieval period, it is today mostly remarkable for its well-preserved buildings from the Renaissance.
- Admire the Architecture at Saint-Jean Cathedral. Address. Pl. Saint-Jean, 69005 Lyon, France. Get directions. Web Visit website. Completed around 1480, the Saint-Jean Cathedral is a genuine masterpiece.
- Get Lost in Lyon's Traboules (Old Passageways) For a fascinating look at Lyonnais history, make sure to explore the city's distinctive traboules. These are networks of ramped, covered, or partly covered passageways that connect many of the Renaissance-era buildings that stand on Fourvière hill.
- Explore the Gallo-Roman Museum & Arenas (Musée Lugdunum) Address. 17 Rue Cleberg, 69005 Lyon, France. Get directions. Phone +33 4 72 38 49 30. Web Visit website.
- Vieux Lyon. You can set foot in one of the largest renaissance old quarters in Europe. In the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries Lyon’s silk industry was thriving, and rich merchant families from across France, Flanders, Germany and Italy settled in the city.
- Traboules. In Vieux Lyon and La Croix-Rousse Saône are an architectural feature unique to this city: Traboules are delightful renaissance passageways, some 40 of which are open to the public, running beneath buildings in the direction of the Saône River.
- Fourvière Basilica. This magnificent church, ever visible on the Fourvière hill to west of the city is one of a series of iconic hill-top churches built in major French cities in the late-19th century.
- Parc de la Tête d’Or. A little way north of the centre is one of the largest urban parks in the country, with a zoo and France’s foremost botanical garden within its boundaries.
The ancient capital of the Gauls, Lyon was founded in the 1st century BC. The city has carried on developing ever since, and nowadays offers a remarkable architectural heritage. Let's set off to discover this city steeped in 2,000 years of history and home to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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Founded in 43 B.C. on the convergence of the gleaming Rhône and Saône rivers, Lyon's long history is still on view today, from its Ancient Theatre of Fourvière to its Renaissance-era district...
Tourist information [edit] 45.7571 4.833 1 Tourist office , Place Bellecour ( M: Bellecour ), ☏ +33 4 72 77 69 69 , info@lyon-france.com . 09:00–18:00 daily, 09:00–20:00 during the Festival of Lights .
