Lyon travel guide — Lyon tourism and travel information

Lyon travel guide

about Lyon

Lyon (often known as Lyons in English) is a city in eastern central France.

Together with neighboring towns, Lyon forms the second largest conurbation in France after Paris. It is also the administrative centre for the Rhône-Alpes region and the Rhône département.

The city gives its name to the Lyonnais region. Two of France's best known wine-growing regions are located near Lyon: the Beaujolais to the North, and the Côtes du Rhône to the South.

Lyon geography

Lyon is located at 45°46' North, 4°50' East (45.767, 4.833).

The Rhône and Saône rivers meet in the centre of the city, which is dominated by the two hills Fourvière and the Croix-Rousse. Fourvière, known as the hill that prays is the location for the highly decorated Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica, several convents, the palace of the Archbishop, and a funicular. Croix-Rousse the hill that works was traditionally home to the many small silk workshops, an industry for which the city was renowned.

The Sain-Jean and the Croix-Rousse areas, which are noted for narrow passageways (traboules) that pass through buildings and link the streets either side, were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1998.

On the peninsula between the rivers Rhône and Saône, is the third largest public square in France, and one of the largest in Europe, the place Bellecour. Specifically, it is the largest clear square (i.e., without any patches of greenery, trees or any other kind of obstacles) in Europe.

Lyon history

Lyon was founded in 43 BC by the Roman Empire, who named it Lugdunum after the Celtic sun god Lugh ("shining one"). Agrippa recognized that Lugdunum's position on the natural highway from north to south-eastern France made it a natural communications hub, and he made Lyons the starting-point of the principal Roman roads throughout Gaul. The three parts of Gaul mentioned by Caesar met at Lyon. It became then the capital of the Gauls.

Under Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, the Christians in Lyon were prosecuted for their religious views. Burgundian refugees from the destruction of Worms by Huns in 437 were resettled by the military commander of the west, Aëtius, at Lugdunum, which was formally the capital of the new Burgundian kingdom by 461.

In 843, by the Treaty of Verdun, Lyon with the country beyond the Saône went to Lothair I.

Lyon was a scene of mass violence against Huguenots in the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacres in 1572.

During the Renaissance the city developed due to the development of the silk trade, especially with Italy; the Italian influence on Lyon's architecture can still be

Lyon was a centre for the occupying German forces, and also a stronghold of resistance during World War II, and the town is now home to a resistance museum. The traboules through the houses enabled the locals to escape Gestapo raids.

Near cities to Lyon

• Vienne travel guide 26 km
• Bourg travel guide 58 km
• Macon travel guide 61 km
• Aix travel guide 83 km
• Valence travel guide 91 km
• Annecy travel guide 100 km
• Geneva travel guide 110 km
• Albertville travel guide 120 km
• Rolle travel guide 140 km
• Biere travel guide 140 km

Near webcams to Lyon

• Paris - Eiffelturm webcam 70 km
• Paris - Eiffelturm webcam 70 km
• Paris - Centre Pompidou webcam 70 km
• Plagne Centre webcam 83 km
• Autrans webcam 84 km
• Chambéry - Mount-Granier (1933m) webcam 85 km
• Méaudre webcam 88 km
• Grenoble webcam 91 km
• Annecy webcam 100 km
• Thiers webcam 100 km

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Lyon travel services

cheap flights to Lyon

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Lyon real estate

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City Travel Guide comes with Lyon real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Lyon property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in France, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Lyon.

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Lyon travel books

Lyon travel guide books

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Lyon maps and atlases

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