Lyon

The third biggest city in France and the second biggest town region in France is Lyon or Lyon. It lies at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, approximately 470 kilometers south of Paris, 320 kilometers north of Marseille, and 56 kilometers south east of Saint-Étienne. The city is situated at the confluence. Lyonnais are called inhabitants of the city. Lyon is a major hub for financial, chemical, pharmaceutical and biotech industries economically. The city has an significant tech industry with a specific emphasis on video games, and has fostered a growing local start-up sector in recent years It is the capital of Lyon's Metropolis and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The city is considered to be part of the UNESCO World Heritage site for its gastronomy & cuisine, historic and architectural landmarks. Lyon was historically an significant region in which silk was manufactured and weaved. In the history of cinema, Lyons held a major role: This is where the cinematograph was invented by Auguste and Louis Lumière. It has also been popular for its light festival, the Fête des Lumières, which starts every 8 December and lasts for four days, earning Lyon the title Capital of Lights.

Lyon Cathedral
The Cathedral of Lyon is a Roman Catholic Church situated on Place Saint-Jean in Lyon, France. Situated in the heart of the district of Vieux Lyon, over 300 years, the Saint Jean-Baptiste de Lyon cathedral has been built, and ruins of the church building have been visible in the entire city. The cathedral has been dedicated to the Baptist John and the Archbishop of Lyons. Stain glass windows dating back to 1200s and the parallels on either side of the alter. Because of its time the astronomy clock of the 14th century was indeed a victory of technology. The spectacular organ of the cathedral was restored in the 1800s, and revised with 30 stops and three keyboards.

Address: Place Saint-Jean, 69005 Lyon, France
Timings: 8:15 am- 7:45 pm
Entry Fee: Free
Telephone: 33 6 60 83 53 97

Theatre of Fourviere

It was buildup by command of Augustus of 17 to 15 BC and spread throughout Hadrian's period. The Roman theater is indeed the oldest in France. It was built next to Fourvière hill, which in Roman times was located in the center of the town. The theater has steep galleries, a decorated floor and a wide stage. The rest of the Odeon, a small theater used for musical shows and poetry contests, is situated near by.

Address: Rue de l'Antiquaille, 69005 Lyon, France
Telephone:+33 4 72 38 49 30

Musee des Beaux-Arts de Lyon

In this Musée des Beaux-Arts, which is considered to be the next best museum of Fine Art in France following the Louvre, the dominant cultural heritage of Lyon is demonstrated. The museum occupies the palais Saint-Pierre (the ancient Benedictine convent) of the 17th century on Place des Terreaux near the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall). This museum has one of the most important European collections of artwork, including the ancient Egyptian antiques, drawings, sculptures and decorative arts. There is also a great selection of impressionist paintings and modern art in the museum. The collection's consistency is outstanding. The works of European masters are well-known, including Delacroix, Géricault, Rembrandt, Rubens, Poussin or Véronèse. The medieval altarpiece is among the highlights of the painting series. See for yourself in the Refectory and Grands Staircases the baroque statues.

Address: Place Saint-Jean, 69005 Lyon, France
Timings: 10.00 am to 06.00 pm
Entry Fee: 7 Euros
Telephone: +33 4 72 10 17 40

Parc de la Tete d Or

The Park is the favorite place in Lyon. While not as big as many similar parks in France, it draws a massive crowd, as the only people in the city worth it. The Infants du Rhone are the most famous of the seven entries of the park. It has a 16 acre lake where baiting from the pier on the south bank is permitted in the summer. It has vast gardens surrounded by large and sunny avenues, massive greenhouses and many decorative flower beds, and everywhere sculptures. Four roses, the International Rose Garden of 40000 m2 and 30000 rose gardens, protected by 350 species are recognized. On the other side, the Botanical Gardens trace the rose's history. Nor are the trees small; the Lebanese cedars, tulip trees, gingco biloba and calf cypresses make up 8,800 persons of various species. There is also a zoo in the park. Initially only some livestock were kept, and over the years there were enough (600) animals that could now be considered a true zoo.

Address: 1 Boulevard du 11 November 1918, 69006 Lyon, France
Timings: 06:30 am to 10:30 pm
Telephone: 33-472694760

Place des Terreaux

The Place des Terreaux in the Presqu'Île area has long played a major role in Lyon's history with its origins dating back to the 13th century. Initially constructed as part of a defensive wall, the site in the 1600s was converted into a town square. The central square is now surrounded by Lyon City Hall to the east and the Museum of Fine Art of Lyon to the south by several guillotine headings during the French Revolution. To the north of the square stands a fountain built by the designer of the Statue of Liberty, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.

Address: Place des Terreaux, Lyon, France
Timings: 24 Hours

Fourviere Basilica

The Notre-Dame Basilica rises to an altitude of 130 meters above the River Saone in a magnificent location on Fourviere Hill. The basilica can be reached via the mountain cable cars. After the Franco-Prussian War, this magnificent church was built when Lyonians had promised that they would establish a marian sanctuary if their town was spared. It was designed between 1872 and 1884. This is a mixture of Gothic and Byzantine styles with an interior that has been richly decorated. Enjoy the magnificent mosaics and paintings across the sanctuary. Following a tour of the interior, ascend the north-east turret to take in the breathtaking view over the cityscape of Lyons and the vicinity. The Esplanade de Fourvière also provides a spectacular view of Lyon on the left side of the Basilica. You see Croix-Rousse and the districts of Terreaux, Saint-Jean quarter farther down the hill and Bellecour square on the right.

Address: 8 Place de Fourvière, 69005 Lyon, France
Timings: 08:00 am - 06:00 pm
Entry Fee: 6 Euros
Telephone: 33-478251301

Vieux Lyon Traboules

Constructed from the riches of silk manufacturing, Lyon is renowned for its 'traboules,' the only covered passageway designed to protect the fragile textile against inclement weather, as it was transported from one location to another. Vieux Lyon, which stretches from Rue St-Jean to the Rue du Boeuf, is one of the longest trabouls in the region, but there is many more. Hidden behind unscript doors, during World War II the corridors were helpful to enable local residents to avoid Gestapo raids. Today, the majority of traboules are located in private houses, which provide access to local apartments.However, during the daylight hours, visitors can access a number of traboules near the entrance.

Address: Avenue St Jean, Lyon, France
Timings: All Day
Entry Fee: 12 Euros
Timing: +33 6 50 50 45 50

Place Bellecour

Place Bellecour is the largest pedestrian square in Europe, the main attraction of the city of Presqu'île between the Saône River and the Rhône. The broad square has been an popular venue for local festivals, open-air concerts and special events, and the recent addition of a massive Ferris wheel adds to its appeal. Several sculptures, like King Louis XIV's sculpture of the 19th century, sit on riding platforms, are also worth noting, but the nearness to the luxurious Lyonian shopping district is the key reason for foot traffic. At Place Bellecour, four major streets bordered by shops launch.

Address: Place, 69002 Lyon, France
Timings: All Day
Telephone: +33 4 72 77 69 69

Rue St-Jean

The Rue St-Jean was once the hub of the silk industry in the Vieux Lyon district. Visitors to Renaissance architecture and the courtyards of the town will find some of the finest examples here. Many of the lovely houses and palaces designed for silk traders and the Lyon aristocracy now have bouchons, restaurants that were founded as cooks of aristocratic families in the 19th century set up to open their own establishments. The locals like gratin dauphinois and kidney de veau à la mustarda sample it's one of the best places to go in Lyon.

Address: 69005 Lyon, France

Famous For:

Rainbow stairs of rue Prunelle
The rainbow stairs can be easily seen between the buttery façades which are so associated with the East French region, in the now so-trendy La Croix Rousse district and 1st arrondissement in Lyon. Evident for several decades, if not longer, the rainbow colors were introduced in 2015 thanks to the artist Genaro Lopez, who quoted his inspiration for South American travels and the art of Mondrian.

Jardin Rosa Mir (Rosa Mir Garden)
The mosaic garden in the Oh-so-trendy 4th district of the city was only open during the summer months, situated in the district of La Croix-Rousse. The impressive artwork created from 1957 to 1977 is a multi-level, street-hidden garden. Jardin Rosa Mir is probably one of the most unique items in Lyon and has several layered structures around floral borders, making it a perfect photography location for this secret gem. And if you have to pay a small entrance fee, it's worth your time to work this special job.
Address: 87 Grande Rue de la Croix-Rousse, 69004 Lyon, France
Timing: 02.00 pm to 05.30 pm

Wall murals around Lyon
Although not so much an occult gem in Lyon, all the fantastic walls and frescoes that can be found in the city are a South West French attraction that you won't want to miss during your time in a foodie city. The Mur des Canuts is the best known of Lyon's walls and maybe what you would term the point of departure of the city's love affair with street art. Originally created in the 1970s in the former silk production district of the Croix-Rousse in Lyon, Canuts Wall is the biggest street art in Europe by a group of students who tried to add a bit of artistic value to the side of an otherwise bare façade (with no windaws at all). The painting was revamped over the decades and it's worth a look if you're in the region during your visit to Lyon.
Address: 36 Boulevard des Canuts, 69004 Lyon, France
Phone: 33 4 78 50 44 57

L Horloge de Guignol (Horloge Charvet)
Locally known as L'horloge Charvet, the Guignol Clock is also near to Puzzle Café, one of Lyon's best coffee shops. The clock was designed by renowned timer Charvet in the 2nd arrondissement of the city, and was installed in the town at the end of the 19th century on 8 de la rue de la Poulaillerie. The failure during the years to renovate and restore the clock does not work anymore, sadly.
Address: Horloge de Guigno
Timing: 24 Hours <

The city of Vienne
While not exactly one of Lyon's best-kept secrets compared to Burgundy's vineyards or Perouges' fairytale village, one of Lyon's lesser-known day trips is to Vienne's beautiful region. First founded as early as Roman times, when the settlement was known as Vienna, today's highlights of this impressive city include plenty of pastel architecture and history. You'll soon be exploring the Musée Gallo-Romain-en-Gal on the fringes of Vienne. You can now access the impressive archeological site and see the factories, commercial and residential districts of Roman Vienna for a fee (an audio guide is included in the bill, subject to availability).

Passage des Imprimeurs
Both fairy lights and dining options, Printer Passage is near to the banks of the Saône River and is reminiscent of Paris' covered passes. Connecting 56 Rue Mercière roads and 26 Quai Saint-Antoine roads, what's interesting about this 'traboule' is that half has a covered roof, while the other half is left exposed to elements.
Address: 26 Quai Saint-Antoine, 69002 Lyon, France

Best time to visit:

Weather:
To please tourists, Lyon doesn't rely on fine weather, so there is really no bad time to visit. Temperatures feel cool for around half of the year despite humidity, and generally good with a risk of rain or snow for much of the year. Especially in comparison to tourist destinations globally, the region is much less temperate than others — in just the 37th percentile for good weather. While you're planning to visit Lyon for the really warmest season, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. The warmest time of year is usually mid-July, where highs are typically about 83.9 ° F (28.8 ° C) at night, with temperatures falling rarely below 61.5 ° F (16.4 ° C).
Best kept secret:

Thermes antiques de Lyon (Lyon Roman Baths)
Hidden within a residential complex, Lyon's Roman baths are easily one of Lugdunum's best places, the name for which Lyon was known during the Roman era. The Thermes Antiques, free to visit, lies a little off the tourist trail and can be found tucked away, hidden behind a modern apartment block. The Roman ruins are possibly my favorite part of all the hidden spots in Lyon. Even though there is little to see today, you can only imagine how vast and spacious these baths were during the ancient times. You will soon find the Ancient Roman Theaters and the Gallo-Roman Museum nearby.
Address: 6 Rue des Farges, 69005 Lyon, France

Useful Information:
Time Difference
United States: 15:27
France: 21:27
Difference: -06:00
  Distance
6823.82 Kms

How to reach Lyon
By Plane

The Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS) has fantastic links with European air hubs such as Paris and London, making it easy to get to Lyon from North America. The fastest route to the town is via the Rhônexpress train (30 minutes, EUR15,90) when you touch down.

By Train

The train is the fastest and most common mode of transport, as far as public transportation goes. The TGV, France's high-speed intercity rail line, only takes two hours to ride from Paris Gare De Lyon to Lyon Part Dieu — because it travels 300 kilometers per hour, that is almost three times as quickly as a car can go.

By Car

Anyone driving from Paris just has to take the A6 which runs all the way to Lyon. The A7 runs directly from Marseille, while the A89, via Clermont-Ferrand, runs across the country from Bordeaux. If you pick up a car at the airport, take the southbound A432, then turn to the A43 into the city centre.

By Bus

Anyone driving from Paris just has to take the A6 which runs all the way to Lyon. The A7 runs directly from Marseille, while the A89, via Clermont-Ferrand, runs across the country from Bordeaux. If you pick up a car at the airport, take the southbound A432, then turn to the A43 into the city centre.

Need to Know

Language: French, English
Tourist Bureau: Donjon du Capitole Square Charles de Gaulle, 31000 Toulouse, France - Opens at 09:30 am
Currency:Euros


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