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Tours in Lyon |
Lyon has developed a strong cultural influence - cultural events and institutions benefit from one of the largest chunks of Lyon's budget - and it shows.
The presence in Lyon of prestigious cultural institutions, such as the National Opera, the National Orchestra, the Lumière Institute, La Maison de la Danse and the Célestins Theatre, contribute to the city's international reputation. Lyon is also a musical city, enjoying ancient, classic, contemporary, international, traditional French songs, rap, rock and more. Of course, this is not to mention dance, theatre and cabaret too, all of which are prevalent in the city. The Conservatoire National Supérieur and the Conservatoire National de Région are among the most important centres of musical learning in France outside Paris.
Tickets for theatrical or musical events can be bought from the booking offices directly or from FNAC, 85 rue de la République (tel: (04) 7240 4949; website: www.fnac.com). Local newspapers and magazines, such as the weekly Lyon Poche (website: www.lyonpoche.com), Le Petit bulletin (website: www.petit-bulletin.fr) or the monthly Lyon Capitale (website: www.lyoncapitale.fr), publish information about cultural events taking place in the city.
Music: The National Opera, 1 place de la Comédie (tel: 0826 305 325; website: www.opera-lyon.org), houses several institutions. Among them is the Opera Orchestra, which started in 1983, with young musicians and experienced conductors. Ivan Fischer has been the musical director since 2000. It alternates classical repertoire works with new compositions.
The Lyon National Orchestra has its permanent residence in the Auditorium, 149 rue Garibaldi (tel: (04) 7895 9548). Since 2000, the Lyon National Orchestra, a symphony orchestra comprising 102 musicians, under the direction of David Robertson then Jun Markl (2005), has acquired an international reputation throughout the world.
The Cité/Centre des Congrès (formerly The Palais des Congrès), 50 quai Charles de Gaulle (tel: (04) 7267 0188), hosts famous French artists, such as Serge Lama or Enrico Macias, as well as many classical concerts.
Theatre: From classical to contemporary, all styles are represented in Lyon. The Célestins Theatre, 4 rue Charles Dullin (tel: (04) 7277 4000), is the oldest theatre in Lyon and has had two centuries of continuous dramatic activity. It welcomes Parisian shows as well as regional companies, with productions ranging from classical theatre to music hall. The Théatre Nouvelle Génération (TNG), 23 rue de Bourgogne (tel: (04) 7253 1515), is a permanent venue for contemporary theatre. It also offers special children's productions.
Lyon was also the birthplace of the theatrical puppet figure known as Guignol, which was created in 1808 by Laurent Mourguet. This tradition is still alive today with the Théatre La Maison de Guignol, 2 montée du Gourguillon St Georges-Vieux (tel: (04) 7240 2661; website: www.lamaisondeguignol.fr.st).
Other theatres include, Les Marronniers, 7 rue des Marronniers (tel: (04) 7837 9817; website: www.theatre-des-maronniers.com), Les Clochards Célestes, 51 rue des Tables Claudiennes (tel: (04) 7827 0695; website: www.clochardscelestes.com), Le Carré 30, 12 rue Pizay (tel: (04) 7839 7461), and Le Théâtre de la Crois-Rousse, 3 place Johannès Ambre (tel: (04) 7207 4949; website: www.croix-rousse.com).
Dance: The Lyon Opera House Ballet Company, place de la Comédie (tel: (04) 7200 4545), offers a contemporary repertoire of international standing. The Maison de la Danse, 8 avenue Jean Mermoz (tel: (04) 7278 1818/00; website: www.maisondeladanse.com), was created in 1980. The company is completely devoted to choreography, with an emphasis on new productions. It welcomes French and foreign companies.
Film: In 1895, the Lumière brothers invented cinematography and shot the first ever film. The Lumière Institute, 25 rue du Premier-Film (tel: (04) 7878 1895; website: www.institut-lumiere.org) offers cinema screenings every day. It is also the best place for film aficionados to catch celluloid rarities and arthouse movies.
There are many other cinemas in Lyon, offering a wide choice of movies, including CNP Bellecour, 12 rue de la Barre, UGC Ciné-cité, 60 quai Charles de Gaulle, and Pathé-Gaumont, 79 rue de la République. Information for all of them is available at www.allocine.fr. There are no English-language cinemas in Lyon.
Lyon has served as a backdrop for movies including Lucie Aubrac (1996) by Claude Berry, Louis Enfant-Roi (1991) by Roger Planchon and Les Voleurs (1995) by André Téchiné.
Literary Notes: Rabelais (1483-1553) was a doctor at Hôtel Dieu in Lyon, before writing Pantagruel (1532) and Gargantua (1535). The poet Louise Labé (1526-1566) was born in Lyon and used to hold a literary salon in the city. And during the Renaissance, the Lyon publishing industry was the most important one in France.
The year 2000 saw the centenary of the birth of one of Lyon's most famous sons, Antoine de St-Exupéry, best known as the author of Le Petit Prince (1943). St-Exupéry wrote many other well known books, such as Courrier du Sud (1927), Terres des Hommes (1939) and Vol de Nuit (1931), before disappearing in his plane over the Mediterranean in 1944. To celebrate the centenary of his birth, Lyon's airport changed its name from Lyon-Satolas to Lyon-St-Exupéry.
The presence in Lyon of prestigious cultural institutions, such as the National Opera, the National Orchestra, the Lumière Institute, La Maison de la Danse and the Célestins Theatre, contribute to the city's international reputation. Lyon is also a musical city, enjoying ancient, classic, contemporary, international, traditional French songs, rap, rock and more. Of course, this is not to mention dance, theatre and cabaret too, all of which are prevalent in the city. The Conservatoire National Supérieur and the Conservatoire National de Région are among the most important centres of musical learning in France outside Paris.
Tickets for theatrical or musical events can be bought from the booking offices directly or from FNAC, 85 rue de la République (tel: (04) 7240 4949; website: www.fnac.com). Local newspapers and magazines, such as the weekly Lyon Poche (website: www.lyonpoche.com), Le Petit bulletin (website: www.petit-bulletin.fr) or the monthly Lyon Capitale (website: www.lyoncapitale.fr), publish information about cultural events taking place in the city.
Music: The National Opera, 1 place de la Comédie (tel: 0826 305 325; website: www.opera-lyon.org), houses several institutions. Among them is the Opera Orchestra, which started in 1983, with young musicians and experienced conductors. Ivan Fischer has been the musical director since 2000. It alternates classical repertoire works with new compositions.
The Lyon National Orchestra has its permanent residence in the Auditorium, 149 rue Garibaldi (tel: (04) 7895 9548). Since 2000, the Lyon National Orchestra, a symphony orchestra comprising 102 musicians, under the direction of David Robertson then Jun Markl (2005), has acquired an international reputation throughout the world.
The Cité/Centre des Congrès (formerly The Palais des Congrès), 50 quai Charles de Gaulle (tel: (04) 7267 0188), hosts famous French artists, such as Serge Lama or Enrico Macias, as well as many classical concerts.
Theatre: From classical to contemporary, all styles are represented in Lyon. The Célestins Theatre, 4 rue Charles Dullin (tel: (04) 7277 4000), is the oldest theatre in Lyon and has had two centuries of continuous dramatic activity. It welcomes Parisian shows as well as regional companies, with productions ranging from classical theatre to music hall. The Théatre Nouvelle Génération (TNG), 23 rue de Bourgogne (tel: (04) 7253 1515), is a permanent venue for contemporary theatre. It also offers special children's productions.
Lyon was also the birthplace of the theatrical puppet figure known as Guignol, which was created in 1808 by Laurent Mourguet. This tradition is still alive today with the Théatre La Maison de Guignol, 2 montée du Gourguillon St Georges-Vieux (tel: (04) 7240 2661; website: www.lamaisondeguignol.fr.st).
Other theatres include, Les Marronniers, 7 rue des Marronniers (tel: (04) 7837 9817; website: www.theatre-des-maronniers.com), Les Clochards Célestes, 51 rue des Tables Claudiennes (tel: (04) 7827 0695; website: www.clochardscelestes.com), Le Carré 30, 12 rue Pizay (tel: (04) 7839 7461), and Le Théâtre de la Crois-Rousse, 3 place Johannès Ambre (tel: (04) 7207 4949; website: www.croix-rousse.com).
Dance: The Lyon Opera House Ballet Company, place de la Comédie (tel: (04) 7200 4545), offers a contemporary repertoire of international standing. The Maison de la Danse, 8 avenue Jean Mermoz (tel: (04) 7278 1818/00; website: www.maisondeladanse.com), was created in 1980. The company is completely devoted to choreography, with an emphasis on new productions. It welcomes French and foreign companies.
Film: In 1895, the Lumière brothers invented cinematography and shot the first ever film. The Lumière Institute, 25 rue du Premier-Film (tel: (04) 7878 1895; website: www.institut-lumiere.org) offers cinema screenings every day. It is also the best place for film aficionados to catch celluloid rarities and arthouse movies.
There are many other cinemas in Lyon, offering a wide choice of movies, including CNP Bellecour, 12 rue de la Barre, UGC Ciné-cité, 60 quai Charles de Gaulle, and Pathé-Gaumont, 79 rue de la République. Information for all of them is available at www.allocine.fr. There are no English-language cinemas in Lyon.
Lyon has served as a backdrop for movies including Lucie Aubrac (1996) by Claude Berry, Louis Enfant-Roi (1991) by Roger Planchon and Les Voleurs (1995) by André Téchiné.
Literary Notes: Rabelais (1483-1553) was a doctor at Hôtel Dieu in Lyon, before writing Pantagruel (1532) and Gargantua (1535). The poet Louise Labé (1526-1566) was born in Lyon and used to hold a literary salon in the city. And during the Renaissance, the Lyon publishing industry was the most important one in France.
The year 2000 saw the centenary of the birth of one of Lyon's most famous sons, Antoine de St-Exupéry, best known as the author of Le Petit Prince (1943). St-Exupéry wrote many other well known books, such as Courrier du Sud (1927), Terres des Hommes (1939) and Vol de Nuit (1931), before disappearing in his plane over the Mediterranean in 1944. To celebrate the centenary of his birth, Lyon's airport changed its name from Lyon-Satolas to Lyon-St-Exupéry.
View Our Airport Guides for Lyon:
Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport
