Tourist information on Lyon, France

Lyon (also spelled Lyons) is the third largest city in France (after Paris and Marseille) and is the capital of both the Rhône-Alpes region and the Rhône département. Situated in east-central France, roughly halfway between Paris and Marseille, Lyon is a major centre of finance, industry and culture and is considered the capital of gastronomy in France. Its distinctive geography is formed by its two rivers, the Rhône (to the East) and the Saône (to the West), which converge to the south of the city, forming a peninsula or Presqu'île.

Lyon was founded on Fourvière hill by the Romans in 43 BC and was originally known as Lugdunum. The city's strategic location naturally made it a hub for trade and communication and it soon became the Capital of Gaul, a status it retained until 297 AD. When the town's aqueducts stopped functioning (through neglect) in the 4th century AD, the city fell into immediate decline. After the Huns attacked Worms in 437, the Burgundian population fled and settled in Lugdunum, which became the capital of the new Burgundian kingdom. The city acquired its modern name, Lyon, in the Middle Ages, when it was developed on the banks of the Saône. It came under French control in the 14th century. During the Renaissance, Lyon became a major centre of finance, silk weaving and printing, but declined in importance in the following centuries (partly through the religious wars) and lost its financial activity to Geneva. However, it remained an important centre of industry and culture. Having lost its silk industry at the end of the 19th century, Lyon prospered as it embraced new industries, such as oil refining and car manufacturing. Today, Lyon is an active player in many high-tech industries, such as information technology, pharmaceutics and biotechnology.

Fourvière hill is the site of the city's two best-known landmarks - the Tour métallique, a steel framework tower which resembles the Eiffel Tower, and the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière, a late 19th century basilica with a richly decorated interior. These are just two of the city's many attractions. Lyon is renowned for the diversity of its historical architecture, ranging from its Roman ruins to Renaissance palaces and modern skyscrapers. Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) is the jewel in Lyon's architectural crown, a narrow strip along the right bank of the Saône that is the second largest Renaissance area in Europe (after Venice). With its narrow cobblestone streets and well-preserved buildings dating back to the 15th century, this is the most picturesque and romantic part of Lyon. Presqu'île is the complete opposite, the busy commercial centre which is the place to go shopping, dining or clubbing.

Other famous Lyonnaise landmarks include the 17th century Hôtel de Ville (City Hall); the Opera house, with its distinctive glass top; the Théâtre des Célestins; and the Mur des Lyonnais (rue de la Martinière), a mural consisting of painted portraits of famous people born in Lyon, including the Renaissance poet Louise Labé and the Lumière brothers, the inventors of cinema. The city's architectural diversity is illustrated by its abundant places of worship, which include the Basilique St Martin d'Ainay (the only entirely Romanesque church in Lyon), the Église Saint-Nizier and the Église Saint-Paul. Place Bellecour is the largest clear square in Europe, dominated by its central statue of Louis XIV on horseback.

One of Lyon's main attractions is its plethora of museums. Foremost of these is the Musée des beaux-arts de Lyon, which owns one of France's most important collections of fine art. Housed in the Palais Saint Pierre (a 17th century convent), its exhibits include work by Tintoretto, Rubens, Rembrandt, Delacroix, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Matisse and Picasso. For more contemporary artwork, visit the Musée d'Art contemporain, situated near the Parc de la Tête d'Or. The Musée gallo-romain de Fourvière is Lyon's second most important museum - it documents the history of the Rhone-Alps region and exhibits an impressive collection of Roman artefacts. One of the city's most interesting museums is the Institut Lumière - Musée vivant du Cinéma. Located in the Lumière brothers' house, this museum presents the history of cinema and is a must-see attraction for all movie addicts. Other museums that are worth a visit include: the Musées Gadagne, which are dedicated to the history of the city and the art of puppetry; the Musée des Arts Décoratifs; and the Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation, which depicts life in Lyon at the time of the German occupation.

Lyon's main green outdoor space is the Parc de la Tête d'Or. Situated between the Boulevard des Belges, Quai Charles de Gaulle and Boulevard de Stalingrad, this is the largest urban park in France. Its attractions include a pretty boating lake, a huge botanical garden, a rose garden and its African Plain, in which wild animals are free to wander in a near-approximation to their natural habitat. Other parks include: the Parc de Gerland and the Parc des Hauteurs, the latter of which offers stunning views towards Beaujolais and the Monts d'Or.

As befits a thriving centre of culture, Lyon has a wide selection of theatres that range from intimate cafés-théâtres to large modern auditoriums, catering for all tastes. These include the grand Théâtre des Célestins, the Théâtre de la Croix-Rousse, the TNP (place Lazare Goujon), and the Théâtre Tête d'Or. The Festival of Lights (la Fête des lumières) is one of Lyon's main cultural events, a large-scale light show which takes place each year on the 8th December to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for saving the town from plague in the Middle Ages.

The nearest airport to Lyon is Saint-Exupéry Airport, 25 km east of the city centre. The tram-train Rhônexpress links the airport to the city (the journey time is about 30 minutes). A more economical option may be to fly with a low cost airline to Grenoble or Geneva and take a train or bus into Lyon. International travellers may find it easier to fly to Paris and take the TGV to Lyon. Lyon's public transportation system is among France's most reliable, and comprises buses, a modern metro and a regional rail network.