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Mar 15, 2024 · The three districts of Lyon Old Town. Lyon Old Town is divided into three districts, all referring to Christian saints. The Northern Old Town is the “Saint-Paul” district. It took its name from the Church it surrounds, known as église St Paul. The Old Town Centre is named “Saint-Jean” (St John). As for St Paul, the name also refers to ...
- French Moments, Author at French Moments
Since the early 20th century, Lyon has been widely...
- Lyon
Lyon Old Town is a Renaissance district at the foot of the...
- French Moments, Author at French Moments
- Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon
- Croix-Rousse and Its Silk Industry
- Lumière Brothers
- Presqu’île
- Murals
- Musée Miniature et Cinéma
- Musée Des Beaux-Arts de Lyon
- Food and Gastronomy
- The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière
- University
One of the central landmarks of Lyon is its cathedral, built in the 12th century. (Before the cathedral, there was another church on the site which dated back to the 6th century). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the seat of the Archbishop of Lyon. This beautiful cathedral is a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles, which perhaps explains w...
La Croix-Rousse is a hill in the center of Lyon, at a height of 254 meters. It is also the name of the neighborhood found here. Today, it houses a vibrant cultural scene and an impressive range of street art. Historically, Croix-Rousse was the center of Lyon’s silk industry, for which the city is famous and its economy was dependent on. Most of the...
Lyon is famous for the Lumière brothers, who grew up in the city and are considered the inventors of cinema. They are aptly named the Fathers of Cinema. They produced a number of short films between 1895 and 1905, making them some of the earliest filmmakers. Today, you can visit the Institut Lumière in Lyon, which is an organization and museum dedi...
Presqu’île is an interesting geographical feature of Lyon. In the south of the city, two rivers join into one. The Saône from the north-west meets the Rhône from the north-east, creating what feels like a little island in the center. Yet, it’s not quite an island, and is actually a peninsula. This gives its name Presqu’île: almost-island. On the ve...
Lyon is known within France and beyond as an icon for murals. The city’s streets and city center are lined with them, so be sure to keep your eye out. The most famous mural in the city is la Fresque des Canuts(the Silk-weavers’ fresco – those canuts come up again and again). The fresco depicts average daily life in the city, and is the biggest fres...
The Musée Miniature et Cinéma combines two museums into one, for all you museum lovers! And it’s located in the stunning Maison des Avocats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Musée Miniature features over 100 realistic miniature scenes, created by European artists. The main artist is Dan Ohlmann, who has designed scenes such as Maxim-De-Paris resta...
The Musée des Beaux-Arts is Lyon’s cultural and artistic center. If you’re a fan of art, it’s well worth a visit. It houses art dating from ancient Egypt all the way to up to the modern era. Famous painters such as El Greco, Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso and Francis Bacon find their work here. The gallery is located in a former Benedictine convent bui...
In 1935, famous food critic Curnonsky described Lyon as the “world capital of gastronomy”. And he wasn’t lying! Lyon has a culinary history dating back centuries. In the 16th century, Catherine de’ Medici brought cooks from Florence to her court, and they prepared a variety of dishes from all across the different regions of France, but with local i...
If you visit Lyon, you’ll notice that you can see this Basilica from many different points of the city (it’s almost like Lyon’s Eiffel Tower). And, on a clear day, you can even see Mont Blanc from the top of the Basilica. Built between 1872 and 1896 on a large hill overlooking the city, the Basilica is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Along with four ...
France is home to some of the top universities in the world, and Lyon is no exception. ENS Lyon is one of the four prestigious “École Normale Supérieure” that are found in the country. It offers a variety of subjects within sciences, maths and humanities. ENS is quite a small university, home to just 2361 students in 2021. It is ranked the 5th best...
Jul 6, 2024 · “A colourful mass of craft shops, restaurants, ice-cream vendors, old postcard sellers, buskers and bars, [Vieux Lyon] is punctuated by two churches and a Cathedral – St Paul, the furthest up stream, known to have been the commercial area during the Renaissance, St Jean Cathedral in the middle, home to wealthy aristocrats, and St George downstream, the craftsmen’s district.
May 11, 2023 · The Vieux-Lyon: a Renaissance-era heart. Built between the Fourvière hill and the River Saône, the Vieux-Lyon (old Lyon) district still possesses all the charm of its narrow Renaissance-era streets. Its 24 hectares of courtyards, staircase towers, Italian-style galleries, and famous traditional traboule passageways plunge you into the heart ...
Oct 27, 2023 · Saint-Jean: This is the heart of Vieux Lyon and is known for its narrow cobblestone streets, Renaissance architecture, and the impressive Saint-Jean Cathedral. It’s a popular area for tourists and has many places to eat and go shopping. 2. Saint-Paul: Located to the north of Saint-Jean, Saint-Paul is another charming neighborhood in Vieux Lyon.
Sep 6, 2022 · Vieux Lyon, also known as the “Old Town” of Lyon, is a well-preserved historic district located in the city center. Dating back to the 4th century AD, Vieux Lyon is home to many beautiful Renaissance and medieval buildings, as well as a lively cultural scene. Here are some things you need to know before visiting Vieux Lyon!
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5 days ago · Old Lyon is rich in both history and charm, with its cobblestone streets and colorful Renaissance architecture, and hidden passageways known as traboules. Lyon is known for gastronomy, and Vieux Lyon doesn’t disappoint! Savor hearty local favorites in a traditional Lyonnais bouchon or indulge in fine dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
