Lyon Travel Guide

ART AND CULTURE Lyon is one of the most famous cities in France for its artistic and cultural activity. Once the capital of Gaul, the contemporary city has succeeded in gracefully combining ancient and modern components, and has earned the classification of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can explore the celebrated old neighborhoods of Lyon, enjoy the city's museums, artistic and historical, and search through the many libraries or take in the great variety of educational attractions.

Museums Lyon boasts a wealth of museums, all worth a visit. The best known and most popular are the Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine, which explains in depth the history of ancient Gaul under the Roman Empire, the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, a name recognized worldwide, the Institut Lumière, which focuses on the Lumière brothers and their great invention and finally the Musée des Miniatures, which provides a birds'-eye view of our world, reproduced in miniature.

Film Lyon is certainly not lacking movie theaters, offering new releases, old classics, and even small, low budget movies. The most popular movie theaters in Lyon, frequented for their quality and reasonable prices are the UGC Lyon Part Dieu 4, the Pathé and the Ciné Cité. These cinemas show new releases for the most part, in very comfortably equipped screening rooms. Lesser known or small-budget movies and old cult classics can be found in the local cinemas, like the Cinéma Opéra, the Fourmi and the Cinéma Le Zola, as well as the UGC Astoria which shows both major motion pictures and small-budget films. Finally, it would be criminal to forget the marvelous and historical Institut Lumière.

Theater & Dance There are many stages for theater and dance performances in Lyon, which are usually well-appreciated and frequented by the population. The best-known are the Théâtre des Jeunes Années, the Théâtre National Populaire, the Maison de la Danse, the Théâtre des Célestins, and the Theâtre de la Croix-Rousse. Lyon is an excellent place both to discover new talent and admire established names, as many well-known troupes make this city a regular stop.

MUSIC Classical Auditory treats abound in Lyon, with busy concert schedules at the Auditorium Maurice Ravel and the Opéra de Lyon. The Opera hall is truly spectacular, the sound is remarkable, and the decor beautiful. A memorable evening is guaranteed, particularly on nights featuring masterpieces like the Magic Flute.

Jazz & Blues Those travelers who love nothing better than a peaceful evening accompanied by the soulful sounds of jazz and blues will have no trouble getting some satisfaction in Lyon. There are many music-themed bars which cater to this style: try the Hot Club or the New Orléans to start out.

Rock There are also many places where you can enjoy good rock music: the Eden Rock Cafe (L'), the Phoebus, and the Atmosphère (L') are all worth visiting. The groups who perform are good, and the number of skilled musicians in Lyon is surprisingly high.

House, Dance, Techno These genres of music are typically found in dance bars and discos, such as DV1 and the Chapelle Club.

NIGHTCLUBS AND SHOWS Lyon by night is by no means Paris, and many find the town less "active" than it should be, considering its size. Still, there are many places to go out and have fun on the town with a friend (or a few!). There are excellent evenings to be had at Duplex, Eden Rock Cafe (L'), or the République. The atmosphere of these nightspots is young and energetic.

Of course there are also places for more intense partying or drinking. The rue Sainte Catherine is unbeatable for mythic nights, if not always the most pleasant. Bars line the street, creating an energetic buzz all night. Start at Ayers Rock (The) and keep moving down the street for an intense evening! A final suggestion for the night: varied bars and pubs follow each other from Saint-Jean to Vaise along the Saône riverside. Cruise through to find a fun-loving crowd!

DISTRICTS Saint-Jean is the most widely known district of Lyon. The Cathédrale St-Jean and the visual beauty of the neighborhood are remarkable, and the restaurants deserve recognition. The cobblestone streets lead peacefully to old Lyon, where cars are quite rare because they are barred from the area. Locals and tourists on foot enjoy the "Traboules St-Jean" (passages particular to Lyon which traverse courtyards and link the streets) and historical architecture. The Place des Terreaux, situated in the heart of the city, is also quite popular. Always full of crowds, there are many shops in this area: theres a bar on every corner, and a large, straight avenue links the Hôtel de Ville de Lyon and the Place Bellecour, where attractive people compliment the ornate architecture.

The Part-Dieu area is quite popular, thanks to its well-known shopping center, the Centre Commercial de la Part-Dieu. You can find anything you want here, despite the intense summer heat and overwhelming crowds.

The sixth arrondissement is the fashionable quarter of Lyon, providing a quiet and peaceful space for those seeking luxury and beauty.

The Gerland area is known mainly for its stadium, the Gerland Stadium, which belongs to the Olympique Lyonnais.

The Laurent Bonnevay quarter is that of the ASVEL Basket Astroballe, the stadium of the famous basketball team ASVEL Basket.

SPORTS Lyon has something to offer most sports lovers with the Gerland stadium for the Olympique Lyonnais and the Astroballe for ASVEL Basket. It also has many other stadiums, gymnasiums, and sports cafes, notably the Brasserie La Victoire.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 27