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| City Guide - Lyons - City Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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City Overview Situated at the crossroads of Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, travellers have often passed through Lyons (Lyon) but not always given this city the attention it deserves. Two hours from the alpine ski resorts and three hours from the sea, Lyons, 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 piste. Lyons has joined Prague among the ranks of urban centres on the UNESCO World Heritage List. As a city, it is characterised by contrasts: between its two hills, the Fourvière and Croix-Rousse; and between its two rivers, the Rhone and the Sâone. Lyons also demonstrates its contrasts 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 Lyons Lugdunum, meaning the 'city of light'. This tradition continues to the present day as every evening throughout the year more than one hundred sites throughout the city are lit up to show the splendour of Lyons' architecture. The best way to fully appreciate two millennia of Lyons' historical heritage is on foot. The sunny and temperate weather lends itself to strolling through its streets, appreciating the architectural splendour of the city. Walking around the city, the visitor passes through a number of historical eras, from Fourvière Hill and its Roman settlement to evidence of Lyons' power in the Gallo-Roman period. Old Lyons (Vieux Lyon) contains the largest display of Renaissance architecture in France, which represents the wealth of the city by the end of the fifteenth century when it became an important trade centre, famous for its fairs and its silk industry. Strolling around Lyons is the only way for visitors to discover and enjoy an authentic local feature: the traboules. These covered passageways were created during the Renaissance, initially as short cuts, but later they became escape routes for the French resistance during World War II. Lyons is a gourmet's paradise. With the exception of Paris, Lyons boasts the largest number of Michelin-starred restaurants and famous chefs in the whole of France. One has simply to remember that Lyons is the home of Paul Bocuse and his famous restaurant to appreciate the quality of cuisine available in Lyons. For a less sophisticated atmosphere, visitors can also sample the simple delights of a bouchon: a small picturesque restaurant specialising in local delicacies. Lyons is a major attraction where the history and architecture of the past - and the cultural and gastronomic delights of the present - combine to make it far more than just another milestone on the way to the Mediterranean; but a city worth a visit in its own right. |
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