All About Lyon, France - Lyon Travel Guide
The 3rd largest city in France, Lyon is the capital of the Rhone-Alpes region. Another distinction that Lyon holds is of being the 2nd largest contributor to the economy of France, behind the Capital, Paris. Nice has a unique location as it lies nestled between the Fourvière and Croix-Rousse hills, and the two rivers, the tumultuous Rhône and the serene Saône.
Though primarily an industrial city with prime interest in textile manufacturing, Lyon also boasts of being the gastronomical capital of France – vying with Paris for the top spot honors! This beautiful Renaissance city has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants and proves to be worth of being dubbed as the ‘cuisine's paradise.’ Considered as a treasured member on the UNSECO World Heritage List, Lyon is a delight for any architecture student or anyone who loves Renaissance architecture. The best places to visit to experience the full force of the detailed designed are the Saint-Jean and the Croix-Rousse areas.
Back in the olden days, Lyon was known as ‘Lugdunum’ meaning the ‘the city of light.’ During the Renaissance period, Lyon became an important trading center and began to flourish socially, intellectually, and artistically. The development was sustained through the 17th and 18th centuries as the silk from Lyon started being used to design clothes and decorate the homes for the elite. After a sabbatical during the French Revolution, development again gained momentum during Haussman rule, and hasn’t stopped so far.
The best way to experience Lyon is to savor the food and visit the many Italian Renaissance structures, and Roman ruins spread around the city. Because of Lyon’s unique geography, the two rivers converge towards the south of the 18th century city center to form a peninsula while the two hills form a large plain that extends eastwards away from the city center. A great way to start the sightseeing tour in Lyon is by visiting the Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica located on the Fourviere Hill or the ‘hill that prays’. It houses an excellent collection of prized 19th century Byzantine era. The Basilica offers some amazing views of Lyon and the waterways on the two rivers. As you move towards the north, you reach the Croix-Rousee or ‘the hill that works.’ For shoppers this a great place to pick up silk products as its home to several silk workshops.
Vieux Lyon is the original city that was built along the western bank of the Saone during the medieval age. Today, it is a UNSECO World Heritage Site. Here you can visit the Lyon fabric museum and see an extensive collection of some of the best silks from around the world. Close by, on the peninsula, is the Place Bellecour, the 3rd largest public square in the country and one of the biggest in Europe. Not to be missed is the Credit Lyonnais Tower, which is the only skyscraper in central France, the Part Dieu shopping center, and the Lyon Part-Dieu or the main rail station in Lyon.
Lyon is not just a city; it’s a documentation of the best of history and architecture belonging to the Italian Renaissance period.