Lyon City Guide - Overview

Lyon is a traditional stopping-off point for tourists heading to the Alps and the South, but it's an appealing destination in its own right. Situated at the crossroads of Europe, two hours from the ski resorts of the Alps and the Mediterranean, Lyon (the capital of the Rhône-Alpes region and the second largest contributor to the French economy after Paris) is more than worthy of a detour on the way to the sun or the slopes.

In 1998, Lyon became one of only a few urban centres on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city's major asset resides in the way that it has developed, enabling each of its districts to conserve their own distinctive architectural hallmarks. As a city, Lyon is characterised by contrasts in its setting, between its two hills (Fourvière and Croix-Rousse) and its two rivers (the Rhône and the Saône). Lyon also demonstrates its mixed heritage, by displaying traits of a typical northern French town in some areas, while other features bear witness to its Latin heritage.

The city's history begins on Fourvière Hill, where vestiges of the original Roman city are still evident. The Romans named Lyon Lugdunum, meaning the ‘city of light'. This tradition continues to the present day - every evening throughout the year, more than 100 sites throughout the city are lit to show the splendour of Lyon's architecture.

The best way to fully appreciate two millennia of Lyon's historical heritage is on foot. The temperate weather lends itself to strolling through the streets absorbing Lyon's distinctive blend of architectural styles. Walking around, the visitor passes through a number of historical eras, from Fourvière Hill and its Roman settlement to evidence of Lyon's power in the Gallo-Roman period. Old Lyon (Vieux Lyon) contains the largest display of Renaissance architecture in France, which dates back to the end of the 15th century, when it became an important and wealthy trade centre, famous for its fairs and its silk industry. Strolling around Lyon is the only way for visitors to discover and enjoy the traboules, covered passageways created during the Renaissance, initially as short cuts, although they later became escape routes for the French Resistance during WWII.

Lyon is a gourmet's paradise. With the exception of Paris, the city boasts the largest number of Michelin-starred restaurants and famous chefs in the whole of France. Gastronomic heavyweight Paul Bocuse runs restaurants here, but visitors can also sample the simple delights of a bouchon, a small, neighbourhood restaurant specialising in local delicacies.

Lyon's history and architecture and cultural and culinary delights combine to make the city far more than just another milestone on the way to the Mediterranean.