Situated in the Rhône Valley and The French Alps, Lyon is France’s second largest city. Built at the meeting point of the Rhône and Saône rivers, this picturesque city is a perfect base from which to discover the Beaujolais region. Considered as France’s gastronomic capital with cuisine to suit all budgets, in Lyon you can eat at a ‘bouchon’, a typical and simple restaurant offering authentic Lyonnais cuisine, or indulge in one of the city’s many fine restaurants.

See:

• Basilique Nôtre-Dame de Fourvière - Constructed between 1872 and 1896 with an austere exterior and an ornate interior, this tower is one of the highest points in Lyon, providing an excellent view. The Basilica offers a wealth of mosaics, stained glass windows, marbles and a fine collection of 19th century Byzantine art.
• Place Bellecour - Formerly known as the Royal Square, the Place Bellecour is located between the Rhône and Saône rivers in the Presqu'ile district. In the centre of this square (one of the largest in Europe) is the famous statue of Louis XIV on horseback by Francois Lemot.
• Vieux Lyon - The old part of the city, known as Vieux Lyon, covers the districts of Saint-Georges, Saint-Jean and Saint-Paul. It is a protected area in Lyon, gathering a fine ensemble of Renaissance buildings (XV and XVI Centuries) and traboules, the covered passageways of Lyon.
• Gallo-Roman Theatres – These two Roman theatres that stand on the Fourvière hillside, one large and one small, were built on the site where Lugdunum (now known as Lyon) was founded in 43 BC. The large theatre is the oldest in France.

Experience:

• Rhône & Saône Rivers – The city of Lyon has two rivers running through it, the Rhône & Saône Rivers. Enjoy picturesque scenery and amazing food on a dinner cruise down these rivers or a relaxing walk along the riverbanks.
• Gastronomy – Lyon is a city boasting fine restaurants serving local specialities including pork products and ‘Cervelle de Canuts’ soft cheese with herbs, ‘tablier de sapeur’ and ‘gras double’ tripe, ‘quenelles’ dumplings (a mixture of butter, semolina and fish), ‘andouillette’ chitterling sausage and ‘paillasson’ fried hashed potatoes.
• Parc de la Tête d'Or – This is the largest park in France, found in the heart of the city. Since its opening in 1856, the park has remained largely unchanged with its lakeshore, large paths lined with hundred year old trees, zoological park and botanical gardens. The only recent addition was the Rose Garden in 1961.