Welcome to Lyon
Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since1998, is home to 2,000 years of continuoushistory and one of Europe’s most remarkableurban heritages—including the second-largest Renaissance district after Venice.The city blends its historical charm withcontemporary art and architecture,featuring buildings by Renzo Piano, Jean Nouvel, and Santiago Calatrava. Lyon is alsoknown as the birthplace of cinema andstands as one of Europe’s most attractivedestinations.
Lyon Highlights & Museums
THE VIEUX-LYON DISTRICT
This UNESCO-listed Renaissance district is the largest of its kind in France. It comprises 3 distinct villages: St Georges to the south, St Paul to the northeast, and St Jean in the center. The area mainly became a city in its own right during the 15th and 16th centuries, and a visit will take you past St Jean Cathedral and into the district itself, with its narrow streets, inner courtyards and “Traboules”.
MUSEUM OF CONFLUENCES
The must-see national Science and Society Museum in Europe! Discover its stunning architecture! Located
at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, it presents the story of the earth itself from its earliest days and humanity through history and geography.
FINE ARTS MUSEUM
Located in the heart of the city’s historic center, in the building of a former royal abbey dating from the 17th
century, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon boasts one of the largest art collections in Europe.
LUGDUNUM – ROMAN MUSEUM AND THEATERS
The Lyon-Fourvière Gallo-Roman Museum and archaeological site are located on the slopes of the Fourvière hill, formerly the center of the Roman city of Lugdunum, founded in 43 BC. The museum houses a superb collection of mosaics, sarcophagi, statues and artifacts.
INSTITUT LUMIÈRE / FILM MUSEUM
The Musée Lumière presents the fabulous inventions of the Lumière brothers. The Hangar du premier film, all that remains of the Lumière factories and the first stage of the “Cinématographe”, has been renovated and transformed into a large cinema.
Beautiful Vineyard Landscapes
BEAUJOLAIS WINE COUNTRY | 30 minutes North of Lyon
The world-famous Beaujolais wines are synonymous with celebrations and social occasions. The vineyards spread across the hills and villages like a landscape from Tuscany. Pronounced with a wide range of accents, the Beaujolais region is known around the world. Its fame is essentially linked to its wine. Setting off along the Route des Crus, with wine tasting, discover local chateaux, or visiting golden stone villages with stop-off points for food.
CÔTE ROTIE | 30 minutes South of Lyon
Discovering an exceptional terroir just 30 minutes from Lyon on the hills of the Rhône Valley. In the hills above Vienne, Côte-Rôtie produces exceptional wines which are as powerful as they are elegant. Wine has been produced here for 2,400 years! Its terraces were created by the Gallo-Romans to grow vines on the slopes and harvesting techniques have hardly changed since.