Travel Guide to Lyon, France

Lyon is a large city in France that is located near Saone and Rona Rivers. The population of Lyon estimates over 1 million of inhabitants with suburbs. The city was founded yet during ancient Roman times. At that time Lyon was called the capital of three Gauls. Such high political importance of this place has quickly led to economic, religious, military and political development. As Lyon was one of the well-developed industrial regions, it also became an important trading center with developed banking system. At the end of the XV century the biggest part of art, social and intellectual elite of the country had residences in the city. Only during post-war time the development of Lyon targeted on reaching European scale. At that period in Lyon were built numerous hotels, cultural and tourism facilities, transport system routes and more.

Modern Lyon is still the center of the industrial region, but the city is mostly known by large number of historical places of interest. This place is also famous for its aesthetic cuisine, numerous museums that feature wide choice of pieces of art, ancient paintings, textile, furniture and other antiquities.

The old part of Lyon is located on the Fourvière hill. This place is a true beauty with its old parks, archeological park of Fourvière, the ruins of the Roman theater and amphitheater, a huge park and garden Tet d’Or, Bellecour Square, old Croix Rousse quarter specializing in silk weaving with its labyrinth streets, Terro quarter, Saint Marten d’Ene Church and more. Tourists will also not forget their visit to the museum of dolls in Hotel de Gadagne – one of the most amazing mansions of the city built in the Renaissance style.