Lyon
Lyon is the capital of the Rhone-Alpes region, and an important French city - it is the third largest city in France.
It is an important cultural and historical center with a unique geography and it was almost natural that a city started flourishing between the Rhone and the Saône Rivers. The city is also located between two hills: Fourvière and Croix-Rousse. The life of the town started as early as 43 BC, as a Roman colony on the Fourvière hill, after which the city has seen centuries of turbulence that followed. Lyon has always been a center of culture and civilization, and was one of the first European cities to benefit from Gutenberg’s revolutionary invention, printing.
Like every city in the world, the architecture of Lyon has been shaped by its history, with the added advantage that Lyon features a unique architecture that separates it from the rest of the world - there is a great deal to see in the town.
Lyon Highlights
The Croix-Rousse district is one of the most unique features of the city and was one of the reasons why the city was once known as the “silk capital of the world”, as the Croix-Rousse hill was home to the silk workers of the city up till the 19th century.
The 15th century Romanesque-Gothic style Lyon Cathedral and the Croix-Rousse district of the city have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The district of the city selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site includes the 1st and 4th arrondisements (sub-divisions) of the city. These parts include the current parts of the city and the former commune of La Croix-Rousse respectively.
The 1st arrondisement features structures like Lyon City Hall and the Fontaine Bartholdi in Place des Terreux, Opera de Lyon, the Palace St. Pierre and the Museum of the Fine Arts, the archaeological site of the Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls of Lugdunum (the Ancient Roman name for Lyon), the unique Church of Bon-Pasteur built on the orders of Napoleon III, and the 17th century built Church of Saint-Polycarpe.
The architectural highlights continue on the other side of the Saône River. Among the structures in the Fourvière hill district, the Romanesque-Byzantine Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which is probably the most spectacular and dominating landmark of the city, the Church of Saint Just, Le Chevet de la Basilica, the Ancient Roman Theater of Fourvière and the Tour Métallique de Fourvière, or the Metallic Tower of Fourvière, which is one of the most famous landmarks of Lyon, are included.
The Lyon Botanical Gardens and the Golden Head Park are a good way to escape from the bustle of the city and enjoy a bit of peace.
Lyon Museums
Among the museums of the city is the Museé Lumière, which is an important source of historical knowledge on the invention of cinema, which was carried out by the very own sons of Lyon, the Lumière Brothers.
But probably the most important of all museums is the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon (Lyon Museum of Fine Arts), which features remarkable classic works of artists like Picasso, Matisse, Tintoretto, Rembrandt and Bourdelle. Apart from classics like the Virgin and Child with Angels by Metsys, the museum also features priceless Ancient Egyptian artifacts. Apart from these, the museum also contains numerous precious works of art from different culture around the world. The museum is one of the largest collections of art and valuable artifacts after the Louvre itself, and a trip to Lyon without witnessing the majestic wonders of art in this museum would surely be incomplete.
The African Museum of Lyon is another place worth visiting and is dedicated to Western African culture.
Food and wine
For those who love to explore the cuisines and delicacies of the places they visit, Lyon is surely the perfect place to be when it comes to enjoying French cuisine, which is why one of the titles of Lyon is the “culinary capital of France”, among many. Lyon is famous for its gastronomy, and offers some of the best of French culinary delicacies.
Furthermore, Lyon is located amongst the best wine producing regions in France, the Cotes du Rhônes and Beaujolais, two of the centers of Rhônes and Burgundy wine regions respectively. This naturally makes Lyon a frequent host of wine tasting events. Be it the rejuvenating Beaujolais red wine or the local delicacies like salade lyonnaise, andouillete and marrons glace, you will find plenty to stimulate your tast buds among Lyon's extensive choice of restaurants..
Culture
Lyon is a rich and proud center of French culture, and is home to a number of festivals and events. Lyon regularly features cultural events like operas and concerts in the city opera. People celebrate the Festival of Lights on December 8 every year. The spectacle of the entire city bathing in light is simply remarkable, as the citizens actively play their part to lighting every corner of the city with candles. Lyons also has a very old tradition of trompe l'œil art, which is the art of creating an optical illusion of a three dimensional scene, which can really take you by surprise.
Lyon offers you a complete and satisfying experience of a city break, and if this city was not on your list of must-visit places, it should be. It is undoubtedly one of the richest locations in Europe as far as history and culture are concerned.
This Lyon article is a guest article contributed to france this way
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The Lyon hotels listed feature descriptions, guest reviews, ratings, location maps, online booking etc. as well as the 'best-price' guarantee. The search for hotels in Lyon is provided by booking.com. General holiday / vacation options- See Rhone-Alpes gites for Lyon holiday rentals - Holiday villages in Rhone-Alpes Holidays nearbyLooking for something close by? See a wide choice of hotels, holiday villages and holiday rentals at: VisitSee Visit Lyon for places to visit near Lyon including: a detailed map, villages in bloom and most beautiful villages DiscussAsk questions or leave a comment about Lyon in our Rhone-Alpes forum Airports near LyonChambery airport at 115 km Lyon property for saleSee Rhone-Alpes property for sale
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Places to visit near Lyon, France
Explore places of interest within about 70 kilometres on a map at places near Lyon.
Some places to visit within 30 km: 
26 km: Vienne (Important town)
See also Lyon (version Francais)
