When did Lyons become an important artistic and commercial center in France, and what triggered this development?

Between 1500 and 1530 the Master of the Entry of Francis I was rivaled in Lyons by only one other artist, Guillaume II Leroy, a painter, illuminator, and bookseller who collaborated with our artist and was perhaps trained in the same workshop. The rise in the production of manuscripts in Lyons at the beginning of the 16th century is paralleled most notably with the appearance of a printing press there in 1473. Commerce in Lyons also flourished with the arrival of the French court during the Italian Wars in 1494, which made Lyons the second center of the Kingdom of France and a veritable hub for commercial and artistic exchange.
More than thirty illuminated manuscripts are now recognized as the work of the Master of the Entry of Francis I. In addition to fifteen Books of Hours, including a luxurious example for Philibert de Vitry (Geneva, BPU, MS Lat. 367), the artist is credited with ten office books, which include a Missal for the church of the Order of Saint John of Rhodes illuminated for Charles Aleman de la Rochechenard, called the Rhodes Missal (London, Museum of the Order of Saint John); a Missal for the Abbey of Saint-Claude in Jura (Paris, Assemblée national, MS 10); the Pontifical of Bishop Louis Guillard d'Épichelière, almoner to Francis I (Paris, BnF, MS Lat. 955), and a Benedictional-Evangeliary for the use of Saint-Nizier of Lyons (Lyon, BM, MS 5136). The Master of the Entry of Francis I also decorated numerous instructive, literary, and historical works, including a Kalender of Shepherds (Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 167), a Trésor de sapience (Chantilly, Musée Condé, MS 147), and the Pas d'armes de Sandricourt (Paris, BnF, Arsenal, MS 3958)
The color palette and the execution of the classically-inspired architectural frames that surround the textual incipits and accompany the miniatures reveal the artist's training in the workshop of the Master of Alarmes de Mars, active in Lyons from the 1480s until the early 1510s.

Lyon became very prosperous with its peak during the Renaissance. In the 15th century, King Charles VIII allowed Lyon the right to hold trade fairs four times per year. Caravans of goods from the north and east traveled to these fairs, which lasted for several weeks. Bankers from Florence and wealthy merchants settled in Lyon. They built luxury mansions and stores.
By the end of the 16th century, King Francois allowed Lyon the right to produce silk to compete with Venice. Silk production became a massive industry and a significant employer all through the 19th century.
With the introduction of Christianity in 177 AD, the earliest Christian community (and the earliest persecutions) was in Lyon. In 1032, it was incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire and finally incorporated into the Kingdom of France in 1312.
You've had a snapshot of where Lyon is, its geography and some historical perspective. Remember Lyon's geography, 2 Rivers, 2 Hills and a Peninsula. Its geography is its history.
On the east bank of the Saone is the historic city of Lyon or Vieux Lyon. The Vieux, all 1000 plus acres of it, is the largest Renaissance town in France and the second largest in Europe after Venice. It was the first area to be declared a cultural site in France in 1954. In 1998, Vieux Lyon, together with the hills of Fourviere and Croix-Rousse, and the Presqu'ile became UNESCO World Heritage sites.
There are three sections to the Vieux, Saint-Jean, Saint-Paul, and Saint-Georges. You will notice that most names on the Vieux will be saints or martyrs.
The Saint-Jean section dates back to the Middle Ages. The prominent part of this neighborhood is the Cathedrale de Saint-Jean (St. John the Baptist) and the square around it. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Lyon, also the "Primat de Gauls." The Primat or the First of Gaul designation refers to Lyon being the first diocese in France.
Dedicated to St. John the Baptist, it took about 300 years (1180-1476) to construct this Romanesque and Gothic style church. The church is a significant feature in the famous Festival of Lights held every year the week of December 8. More on this later.

Located at the foot of the Fourvière hill, old Lyon is one of the largest existing Medieval and Renaissance quarters. Its architecture is linked to the Florentines who accompanied Catherine de Médicis for her marriage to the son of François Premier. It was during this era that balconies, interior courtyards, colored facades and very southern type arcades were created. Old Lyon also represents the soul of the city with neighborhoods like Saint-George, where the silk weavers originated, Saint-Jean, with its alleyways and its pedestrian streets or Saint-Paul, immortalized by the Bertrand Tavernier film, “The Clockmaker of St. Paul” starring Philippe Noiret. Old Lyon was also the first place in France to undergo a programmed urban renewal operation, the objective of which was to upgrade and restore the old centers of big cities in order to protect the heritage represented by these quarters of the city. The unique aspect of Old Lyon was recently recognized by UNESCO which classified it as a world humanity heritage.
In the heart of this quarter steeped in history, La Cour des Loges proposes 61 rooms and exceptional facilities and services. This five-star hotel combines four 14th century buildings originally used to house Italian merchants attracted by the famous Lyon Fair. Adapting to a grandiose décor and offering contemporary harmony and comfort was no mean feat. The apartments, suits and duplexes symbolize the spirit of one of Europe’s most unique sites. The Petite Mezzanine for example has a very special aura with its raised bathtub facing the transom window and the mezzanine bed under a French style ceiling. The Chambre Classique is a blend of contemporary and Renaissance art with velvet fabrics, wrought iron and sculpted wood. The Chambre Supérieure possesses centuries old woodwork, heavy curtains large mirrors, and both contemporary and Renaissance furniture, all facing the interior courtyards.
After strolling around the pedestrian streets and getting lost in the numerous alleyways, guests can take advantage of the peace and quiet offered by their hotel. The bar with its two cozy retro designed salons, proposes a highly refined menu. The Café Epicerie, a name which recalls the spice trade of the 16th century, offers a variety of delicious, original and light dishes. Les Loges is the place to go for excellent cuisine in an exceptional Italian Renaissance décor.

Trésors enluminés des Musées de France: Pays de la Loire et Centre, Angers, 2013.
Delaunay, I. “Livres d'heures de commande et d’étal: Quelques exemples choisis dans la librairie parisienne 1480–1500,” L'artiste et le commanditaire aux derniers siècles du Moyen Age (XIIIe-XVIe siècle), ed. F. Joubert, Paris, Cultures et civilisations médiévales, 24, 2001, pp. 249-270.
Elsig, F. Painting in France in the 15th century, Milan, 2004.
Elsig, F. Peindre en France à la Renaissance, I: Les courants stylistiques au temps de Louis XII et de François Ier, Milan, 2011.
Maxence, H. “Production et commande de manuscrits enluminés à Lyon à la fin du Moyen Âge et à la Renaissance,” in Arts et humanisme: Lyon Renaissance, dir. Ludmila Virassamynaïken, Paris, 2015, pp. 274-279.
Hindman, S. and A. Bergeron-Foote. France 1500: the Pictorial arts at the Dawn of the Renaissance, Paris, 2010.
Hofmann, M. Jean Poyer: Das Gesamtwerk, Turnhout, 2004.
Lalou, E., C. Rabel, and L. Holz, “Dedens mon livre de pensee:” de Grégoire de Tours à Charles d’Orleans: une histoire de livre médiéval en région Centre , Paris, 1997.
Levy, T. Les peintres de Lyon autour de 1500, Rennes, 2017, pp. 80-82, 196-201.
Olivier, E., Hermal, G., and de Roton, R. Manuel de l'amateur de reliures armoriées françaises, 30 vols, Paris, 1924-1935.
Plummer, J. The Last Flowering: French Painting in Manuscripts, 1420-1530 from American Collections, New York, 1982.

Lyon is a city that is located in the Rhone-Alpes region of France. It is located about four hundred and seventy kilometers from Paris and about three hundred and twenty kilometers from Marseille. The city covers an area of over forty-seven kilometers and has a population of over four hundred and seventy thousand people. While not being the political capital of France, Lyon is considered to be both the business and gastronomical capital of the country. Lyon is also a major industrial center in France and produces various chemical, software and pharmaceuticals products.
The city was originally established as a Roman colony by Munatius Plancus in the first century and was situated on Fourviere Hill. Its name at the time was Lugdunum which meant “Hill of the crows”. The city’s position on the natural freeway between northern and southern France made it a natural center of trade and communication. As such it was the beginning point of the vast Roman network of roads throughout Gaul and it quickly was named its capital. During this time two notable Roman emperors were born here, the emperors Caracalla and Claudius. During the nineteenth century the city would become an industrial center.
The twentieth century saw the urban development of the city expand. During World War II, this city would be the center and the driving force of the French Resistance against the German invaders. After the end of the war, Lyon developed a large transportation system and added various tourist facilities, such as museums and hotels. During the 1980s, the infrastructure of the city continued to expand and improve. The city especially paid attention to its historical monuments and started working on renovating and preserving them.
Today, Lyon is the second wealthiest city in France, after Paris, and has a Gross Domestic Product in excess of fifty-two billion euros. The city has also been the headquarters of many national and international companies. Some of these include Euronews, BioMerieux, Compagnie Nationale du Rhone and GL Events. A growing part of Lyon’s economy is its tourism industry. The city enjoys over one billion euros in tourist dollars every year and hotel bookings from tourists account for an additional three million hotel stays over the course of a year. This city is also known for its hostels and Lyon is ranked in first place in that category.
One of the most prominent tourist attractions in the city is the Place Bellecour.

The Tourism Office of Lyon reckons it will take you two days to fully appreciate all the facets of this historic and modern city. It is a cross road from Paris to Marseile but also from Geneva and the Alps to the Massif Central.
Lugdunum, as it was called by the Romans or Lugodunon by the Gauls andv means the Fort of Ligh, thas been there a long time and has transformed itself many a time. It was the capital of Gaul for centuries.
Silk weavers are (mostly...) gone and have been replaced by heavy and high tech industries alike.
The TGV and the new airport and industrial complex of Isle d'Abeau on the eastern outskirts of the city have revitalised Lyon which is the second biggest agglomeration of France with 1.5 million people generating over 60 billion euros. It is famous for its culture - Opera by Jean Nouvel - and cultural heritage - many historical monuments and churches - as well as its gastronomy with one of its most famous chefs being Paul Bocuse. Lyon is also very close to two wine regions, the Cotes-du-Rhone we have discussed on its South and the world-famous Beaujolais to the North. Burgundy is not that far away either. The Bresse region to the East is famous for producing the best chickens - see Les Saveurs du Palais film for details. Charolais to the North for its beef and obviously all the fruits and vegetables grown in the Rhone Valley and further afield in Provence.
Paul Bocuse - L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges - 3 Michelin stars since 1965!!!
I have never had the pleasure to dine chez Paul Bocuse, but this blog being squarely focused on food and wine, I cannot not mention this world renowned institution. You will have to reserve months in advance and be prepared for spending at least 300 euros per person for the degustation menu and a decent bottle of wine!
Our own Tetsuya in Sydney charges only 210$ per person, so you should rush there and save on the flights...lol!
And a recent review of it on TripAdvisor:
"I had been looking at the menu for months before going and had high expectations. From the moment we arrived until we pulled out of the parking lot, every expectation was exceeded! Bocuse provided the dining experience of a lifetime.

Lyon is a city in east central France. It is the third largest French city, the first being Paris and the second Marseille. It is a major centre of business, situated between Paris and Marseille, and has a reputation as the French capital of gastronomy and a significant role in the history of cinema.
Together with its suburbs and satellite towns, Lyon forms the second largest metropolitan area in France after Paris, with 1,783,400 inhabitants at the 2007 estimate, and approximately the 20th to 25th largest metropolitan area of Western Europe.
Lyon is the préfecture (capital) of the Rhône département, and also the capital of the Rhône-Alpes région.
The city gave its name to the Lyonnais province, of which it was the capital. Today the region around Lyon is still known as Lyonnais (French: le Lyonnais), or sometimes even as the Lyonnaise Region (French: Région Lyonnaise). Lyonnaise Region is an unofficial, popular name, not to be confused with the administrative région of Rhône-Alpes, which is much larger than the Lyonnaise Region.
Lyon is known as the silk capital of the world and is known for its silk and textiles and is a center for fashion.
Lyon is also the international headquarters of Interpol and EuroNews.

Year of foundation: 1872
Approx. number of students: approx. 3,300
MCI partner since: 2018
Lyon is the third-largest city and second-largest urban area of France. Lyon had a population of 513,275 in 2015. It is the capital of the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The city is known for its cuisine and gastronomy, and historical and architectural landmarks and a part of it is a registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Economically, Lyon is a major centre for banking, as well as for the chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries.
Emlyon business school is a French leading business school. It was founded in Lyon, France in 1872 by the local business community, and is affiliated to the Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It has triple accreditation: EQUIS by the EFMD, AMBA, and the AACSB. Emlyon curently has 5 campuses: Lyon, Saint-Étienne, Shanghai, Casablanca and Paris.www.em-lyon.com Zurück

Lyon is flanked by two hills - the Fourvière and Croix-Rousse and also between two rivers - the Rhone and the Saone. It is the second largest metropolitan city in France following Paris. With a history in textile manufacturing, the city is also known for its gastronomy. About 500 hectares of Lyon has been regarded as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was known as the City of Lights in the olden days. Lyon still lives up to its moniker by lighting up all its monuments and buildings every evening post sunset.
Just climb up the Fourvière hill and you will be rewarded with a breath-taking sight of the city. The Notre Dame Basilica is yet another fantastic site on the Fourvière hill. Another cathedral which is a must visit is the St-Jean. Built around the 12th century, the architecture represents the metamorphosis of Old Europe from Roman to Gothic. There is also the Musée des Beaux-Arts that has a large collection of ancient and medieval art across the world including Egyptian paintings and pieces from Monet, Picasso and others. Pay your respects to the ancient silk manufacturing industry of Lyon by paying a visit to the Musee de Tissus. Apart from fabrics dating around 2000 years ago, it also has on display, the partridge motif brocade of Marie Antoinette's bedchamber at Versailles. And if you are hungry, do not hesitate to visit any of the “bouchons” for a sample of some local, tasty French cuisine. The best time to visit the city is between November and January.
- Musee des Beaux-Arts
- Vieux Lyon (neighbourhoods of Saint Jean, Saint Georges and Saint Paul)
- Notre Dame de Fourviere Basilica & Fourviere neighbourhood
- Musée des Tissus (Fabrics Museum)
- Musee Gadagne (Lyon History and world marionettes)
- Cathedral St. Jean (St John Cathedral)
- Musée de la Résistance (Museum of the Resistance)
- Musee de l'Imprimerie de Lyon (Printing Museum)
- Musée de la civilization Gallo-Romaine (Museum of the Gallo-Roman Civilization)
- Amphitheatre Gallo-Romain (Gallo-Roman Amphitheatre)
- Quartier Croix Rousse (neighbourhood)
- And More...

Discover Lyon and the district of Ainay
Hotel Tourism Lyon 2
Lyon, a UNESCO heritage site, has developed its tourist appeal by scheduling multiple and various artistic and cultural events.
Lyon is an example of evolution with its Renaissance and classical Haussmann and innovative with the development of the Confluence.
Its neighborhoods all with a current or past history (Ainay, Brotteaux, Guillotière Croix Rousse or ...), squares (Place Bellecour, former military place Bellecour square and fountain of Bartoldi , Republic Square and fountains, Place du Maréchal Liautey with bowl players), its old streets and alleyways (Ward St Georges, St Jean in St Paul, the slopes of the Croix Rousse with his climb the big hill) and its banks make Lyon a city where one can take the time to find out. p>
You can also enjoy its many markets (quai St Antoine Place Carnot, Rhone dock or market Croix Rousse) to enjoy a city on a human scale.
Many museums allow you to match your mood to enjoy classical, contemporary or specific themes in Lyon (gadagne and terrace, fabrics and decorative arts, museum of resistance.)
Restaurants, because Lyon is the capital of gastronomy, take you to the gourmet culinary excellence, bistronomic or nearby.
We offer below a non-exhaustive list but representative of the cultural richness of LYON. We can advise you, help you and guide you to the right people to make your stay a moment of pleasure and relaxation.
Excursions in connection with the tourist office of Lyon
Visit the Beaujolais - all Wednesday and Saturday
Visit the alleyways
Visit the iconic neighborhoods
Festival of Lights
Biennial of Contemporary Art
Quai du polar
Timers and festivals
Festival Lights (Lights Institutes)
And close JAZZ IN VIENNA
Museum of Fine Arts
Contemporary Art Museums
Museum of Confluences
Museum of Decorative Arts and fabrics
Gadagne Museum (Musée de Lyon)
Museum of the Resistance
Gallo Roman Museum
Miniatures Museum and cinema

With around 208 000 visitors to SIRHA 2017, the professional hospitality and catering show and 7 400 attendees at ECTRIMS in 2012, an international congress on multiple sclerosis, the agglomeration is able to host the largest international events. Since an area of 500 ha in the heart of the Greater Lyon was classified as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1996, Lyon has been working on its image and perfecting its assets. This change is reflected today by growth in tourist numbers, in particular at weekends and in the summer season. With 22 % of visitors coming from abroad and an average stay of 3.7 days, Lyon has become a city-break destination for lovers of gastronomy and heritage as its mentioned in Lyon tourist map.
The Lyon attractions map shows the main monuments, museums and parks of Lyon. This tourist places map of Lyon will allow you to easily plan your visits of tourist attractions of Lyon in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes - France. The Lyon attractions map is downloadable in PDF, printable and free.
The impressive cultural heritage of Lyon is evidenced in this Musée des Beaux-Arts, considered the next best fine arts museum in France after the Louvre. At the Place des Terreaux near the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), the museum occupies the 17th-century Palais Saint-Pierre, a former Benedictine convent. Lyon atmospheric Quartier Saint-Jean as its shown in Lyon attractions map is the place to discover the old-world ambience of Vieux Lyon. This medieval quarter north of the cathedral is filled with narrow cobblestone lanes and quiet little courtyards. Lyon stands on the site of the ancient Roman city called Lugdunum, founded in 43 BC, which was the capital of Gaul. This superb Museum of Archaeology displays Gallo-Roman-era objects including vases, gravestones, mosaics, statues, coins, and ceramics. The antiquities displayed are from onsite digs (from the city of Lugdunum) as well as nearby Roman archaeological sites of Saint-Romain-en-Gal and Vienne.
While visiting Lyon, one should definitely indulge in the famous regional cuisine. The hearty local gastronomy features satisfying dishes such as steak, lamb stew, roast chicken with morels, and poached eggs in red wine sauce.

Lyon, France’s second largest city, located in the historical Rhône-Alpes region, is a city of culture, heritage, gastronomy and much more besides.
Dating back to ancient Roman times, Lyon has earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The impressive cultural heritage of Lyon is evidenced in this Musée des Beaux-Arts, considered the next-best fine arts museum in France after the Louvre.
Lyon is also an excellent conference and seminar destination with excellent conference facilities and a broad cross section of hotels to match. Evening entertaining is always going to be a highlight too with some of France’s best restaurants located in the city.
With Haute Pursuit’s head office based in Chamonix Mont Blanc in the French Alps, opening an office in Lyon was the logical next step, enabling us to service your team building, conference, seminar and off-site requirements to the high standard all of our customers require.
As we open our doors in Lyon we have three main propositions for you:
Gamification - using modern technology to increase collaboration and interaction between staff and clients alike.
Products include city rallyes, gastronomic team building games, food tastings and
quizzes, all in exciting Lyonnaise locations.
Wellness retreats - yoga and mindfulness, nutritional advice and cooking classes.
Artistic discovery - drawing, painting and creative challenges. Individual and collaborative team experiences.
Our new Lyon office will be managed by Nathalie Eeses, long-term Haute Pursuit staff member and Lyon locale, who really knows the city inside out and is passionate about putting Lyon on the map in the corporate events world! Initially we will be targeting businesses based in Lyon with our team building propositions but we will be expanding our offer to multinational companies looking to do an offsite seminar or conference in a relatively unknown destination – the wonderfully cultural city of Lyon.
France's second-most important city after Paris, is surprisingly undiscovered. Although Lyon doesn't often make it onto tourist itineraries, many cultural treasures await those who take the time to explore the city. The city boasts France's oldest ancient ruins, medieval quarters, and fine Renaissance houses.
If you are interesting in finding out how we can help you organise your next corporate event in the city of Lyon, get in touch with us today with your requirements and lets see what we can organise for you.

Many of the great chefs of Lyon, like Paul Bocuse, started in the kitchen of one of the storied bouchons. Paul Bocuse became the first celebrity chef in the 1970s and the 1980s. French chefs of his generation started preparing lighter dishes, with fewer sauces and newer techniques. French "nouvelle cuisine" emerged supported by restaurant guides such as Michelin and Gault et Millau.
Lyon and Paul Bocuse are almost synonymous. He opened many brasseries and bistros that still exist in Lyon. There is also a cooking school with his name in Lyon, where you can attend or take specialized classes. You can lunch or dine there where meals are prepared and served by culinary students.
Paul Bocuse passed away in 2018.
As you go around France, you will find that the fresh or open markets so popular are gravitating towards enclosed food halls. But, in Lyon, a large, real "live" market is still held six days a week. At the Quai Saint-Antoine, on the banks of the Saone, there is a market from Tuesday to Sunday from 8 AM to 2 PM. There are fewer vendors on weekdays but a full board from Friday to Sunday. On Sundays, there is also an arts and crafts market on the opposite bank.
You can get fresh meats, seafood, fruits, and vegetables. There will be cheeses, wines, bread, olives, nuts, tarts, cooked meals, all types of sausages, roast chicken and roast pork, and flowers.
Our favorite Sunday lunch was having sausages, roast pork, or a rotisserie chicken from the market with some artisan baguettes and olives! Very popular around the Quai are outdoor cafes offering oysters and seafood items.
For the distinctive gourmet taste (and there are many), there is the Les Halles de Paul Bocuse. Les Halles is a specialty food hall that features local vendors with a reputation for quality foods and wines. Some of these vendors have been in business for decades or a century. Offerings are very regional i.e., local cheeses, seafood, meats, pastries. There will be restaurants there for a meal at lunchtime or dinner. Try the sweetest oysters you will ever taste or have a fig stuffed with foie gras.

5 Reasons Why You Should Choose Lyon Over Paris For Your MBA
While Paris is long been considered the business hub of France, Lyon offers an attractive alternative for MBA students to big city life in the French capital
When talking about France’s growing business economy, it’s easy to focus on Paris. With a population of 2.1 million, and an economy worth over $700 billion, Paris is often seen as the focal point of mainland Europe’s market.
But the big city life isn’t for everyone. Less than 300 miles southeast of the French capital lies the historic city of Lyon.
A burgeoning merchant town during the 15th century silk trade, and the birthplace of cinema, Lyon is nowadays the second biggest French city. It is becoming known for its tech scene, its pharmaceuticals and biotech industries, as well as being an exciting hotspot for startups.
For MBA students, Lyon is an increasingly attractive offer. We spoke to MBA students from EMLYON Business School, Lyon’s leading business school, to come up with five reasons why you should choose Lyon :
1. A relaxed alternative to city life
With a quarter of Paris’ population, Lyon offers a considerably smaller and more relaxed pace of life than the French capital.
Having moved from Rio de Janeiro, Pedro Souza (pictured) was looking to escape the city. The city’s relative tranquility and lack of congestion was a big factor when he enrolled at EMLYON Business School in Lyon.
“On a personal level, I wasn’t willing to move to a super crowded city like Paris. I wanted a space where I could focus all of my energy on the MBA rather than the distractions of the big city,” Pedro remembers.
“Lyon has a small town feeling but with a lot to offer.”
2. Join the latest innovations in pharmaceuticals and biotech
While Lyon’s economy is significantly smaller than Paris’, it attracts large, dynamic businesses which are at the forefront of their respective industries.
Pharmaceuticals and biotech companies have long had a base in Lyon, with giants like Sanofi Pasteur holding their headquarters there.
EMLYON MBA graduate Emmanuel Hatt (pictured) was brought to Lyon for that very reason, working for specialty chemicals company Solvay. With Lyon as his base, the industry catered for him to explore further.
“In terms of internationality, the chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries are at the top,” Emmanuel notes.
3.

Discover the capital of gastronomy
The most atmospheric and intriguing district of the city is undoubtedly Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon). You can spend hours wandering through its authentic backstreets and ‘traboules’ (narrow covered thoroughfares). Shops, boutiques, bars and restaurants are everywhere. If you love good food, you’ll find the finest (regional) dishes and the best wines in Lyon. Or allow your eyes to roam around the Halles de Lyon-Paul Bocuse, an enormous roofed market filled with fresh ingredients and delicacies of every kind. The city’s reputation as the capital of gastronomy has stood for centuries. With traditional bistros to Michelin-starred restaurants to choose from, it is well deserved. Lyon is the ideal destination for a city trip and the perfect starting point for a longer holiday in France. Expect to be surprised: book a flight to Lyon today!
A city between 2 rivers
Lyon is surrounded by both the Rhône and Saône rivers. The banks of these rivers have been transformed into fantastic locations with plenty to see and do. In Parc des Berges du Rhône, you can walk, cycle and enjoy peace and quiet right in the city centre. Looking for a nice souvenir? Les Puces du Canal is the largest antiques market in the region. You’re bound to find something appealing among its 400 stalls.
Flights to Lyon for a unique city trip
Looking for a cheap flight to Lyon? With KLM, your holiday begins the moment you step onboard. Your journey will fly by with your own entertainment set on intercontinental flights: free films, games and music. Enjoy our selection of snacks or a tasty dinner and drinks. Add in our many handy extra services (some available for a supplement) and you’ll be in France before you know it.

Lyon’s unmissable tourist attractions include:
- Vieux Lyon, at the foot of the Fourvière hill
- Confluence museum
- Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière
- The Croix-Rousse district
- The Confluence district
- Place des Terreaux and Place des Jacobins
- Cathédrale Saint Jean-Baptiste de Lyon
- The traboules, the indoor passageways which are typical of the city
- Maison des Canuts museum
- Musée des Tissus textile museum
- Petit Musée Fantastique de Guignol puppet museum
- Institut Lumière
- Musée des Beaux-Arts
- Musée d’Art Contemporain
- Lyon Aquarium
- Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon
- Lyon Opéra
Discovering France's gastronomic capital
Lyon is known as the French gastronomic capital for good reason, as the city is home to a large number of Michelin-starred chefs, such as the legendary Paul Bocuse, as well as around a hundred restaurants and “bouchon” bistros. You are sure to find something to take your fancy, whatever your budget, so why not treat yourself and discover some Lyon specialities?
During your stay in Lyon, make sure you discover one of the many “bouchon” bistros, which are typical of this region. In a traditional and friendly atmosphere, you will be able to savour generous regional cuisine that combines simplicity and unequalled flavours.
Among the specialities you can discover are salted meats, such as rosette, saveloy sausage and pistachio saucisson, and other treats, such as the “cervelle de canut” cheese dip, “tablier du sapeur” beef dish, “coussin de Lyon” chocolate pillows, Lyonnais salads, pork “grattons”, pike quenelles, praline tarts and more.
Lyon cuisine is known in particular for the high quality of the products it showcases. You will not be disappointed by the region’s wines either, with Lyonnais, Rhône, Beaujolais and Bourgogne vintages making the ideal accompaniments to all your meals.

Last month Dan and I joined my parents, Dan’s parents, my aunt, my sister, my brother-in-law, and my cute little 17 month old niece for a week-long family holiday in Lyon, France. Located at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers and surrounded by some of the best wine country around, it’s also considered the gastronomic capital of France and thanks to Eurostar can now be reached directly from London.
Boasting neat museums such as the Lumiere Museum (which tells the history of early filmmaking) and the Puppets of the World Museum, old Roman ruins, and fantastic cuisine, the hilly riverside city makes a perfect long weekend city break destination. In Vieux Lyon, the oldest part of Lyon, pedestrian friendly cobblestoned-streets are lined with charming pastel-hued boutique shops, boulangeries, patisseries, and small bistros called bouchons serving up amazing dishes such as salade lyonnaise, green lentils with sausage, local whitefish, and delicious fruity Beaujolais wine. A quick funicular ride will take you up to Fourvière Hill for panoramic city views and to see the stunning glimmering white Notre-Dame Basilica as well as the remains of an old Gallo-Roman amphitheater (more on that in the next post!)
Hidden, covered serpentine passageways called traboules serve as shortcuts for locals (and visitors!) in the know to connect Vieux Lyon and nearby La Croix-Rousse hill. Look for the door plaques as you wander along to find the few traboules available to the public. Hint: the longest one links up #54 Rue St. Jean to #27 Rue du Boeuf.
Our week in Lyon showed us that the city is not only a feast for the stomach but the eyes!

The digital sector in Greater Lyon
Lyon is at the cutting edge of digital
The digital and image industries in Greater Lyon means:
- Lyon French Tech (an eco-system with the French Tech label)
- 7 000 businesses, including 300 with high growth potential
- 42 000 jobs
- 600 digital events per year
Towards very high-speed internet
Lyon Métropole has a strong digital policy and is developing a major innovation network in the field of telecommunications: it has in particular defined a strategy for the very high-speed digital development of your territory by 2018.
Find out how Lyon's international network can open up opportunities for you in the areas of development and R&D.

France’s second City is a wonderful destination to visit. This post outlines the best areas to stay in Lyon, and potential hotels and accommodation to make your trip to Lyon fabulous. We have spent quite a bit of time in France exploring and visiting friends and family. We visited Lyon City, France mid Summer and were surprised by what a great city it is to visit. We were drawn to France’s second city by its culinary reputation – and we weren’t disappointed. Bordered by two rivers, Lyon is a charming city with amazing architecture both modern and ancient, a UNESCO World Heritage protected old town, fantastic museums and great food. Lyon was founded by the Romans, and in the 17th and 18th Century the Croix-Rousse silk weavers provided silk to Royal Courts throughout Europe.
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If Lyon is not on your list of places to visit in France, a holiday in Lyon should be added! Lyon is a fabulous mix of the traditional and contemporary, you can be wandering around the traboules one moment and then taking in the contemporary architecture from the Rhône and Saône rivers. Of course, there are some many restaurants in Lyon to try. Lyon is located in the centre of France and can get very hot, humid summers and cold winters. We can vouch for the hot summers with days of very sunny, hot, mid 30c weather.
There are so many things to do in Lyon. Regardless of how much time you have a great place to start is the Lyon Tourism Office in Place Bellecour, pick up a Lyon Travel Guide and a Lyon City Card. Grab a Lyon City Guide and decide what to see in Lyon.
Finding a place to stay in Lyon, amongst the many places to stay, will set you up for a fabulous stay. There are many Lyon hotels to choose from it can be a bit overwhelming, and your options for varied for accommodation. The cost of hotels in Lyon, like other large French cities, is high. Finding nice apartments in Lyon, France is also another good option. Depending on where you stay in Lyon, you may be able to find budget-friendly options too – look at our Lyon accommodation recommendations of La Croix-Rousse and La Part-Dieu.

Lyon(redirected from Lyons, Archdiocese of)
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Ly·onor Ly·ons (lē-ōN′, lyôN)
A city of east-central France at the confluence of the Rhone and Saône Rivers north of Marseille. Founded in 43 bc as a Roman colony, it was the principal city of Gaul and an important religious center after the introduction of Christianity. Its silk industry dates to the 1400s.
(Placename) a city in SE central France, capital of Rhône department, at the confluence of the Rivers Rhône and Saône: the third largest city in France; a major industrial centre and river port. Pop: 480 778 (2006). English name: Lyons Ancient name: Lugdunum
Ly•ons(liˈɔ̃, ˈlaɪ ənz)
a city in E France at the confluence of the Rhone and Saône rivers. 418,476.French, Lyon.
Switch to new thesaurus
|Noun||1.||Lyon - a city in east-central France on the Rhone River; a principal producer of silk and rayon|
Lyonnais - a former province of east central France; now administered by Rhone-Alpes

Things to do in Lyon France include everything from dining at traditional bistros and shopping at alluring fashion boutiques to visiting cultural attractions and wine regions. There are a variety of activities in Lyon that will certainly appeal to each and every member of your group. You can spend time exploring the city’s many monuments and examples of Renaissance architecture, or pass time meandering through the chic and trendy boutiques and cafes, which seem to be around virtually every corner.
One of the best things to do in Lyon is to explore the entire shopping scene in the city. There is a broad selection of destinations including indoor and outdoor markets, shopping malls and department stores, and independently owned shops and boutiques. There are also a good number of internationally recognized, high-end designer boutiques in areas of town like the Presqu'ile. Check out the Rue de la Republique and Rue Victor Hugo for some amazing, designer shopping.
Of all the activities that are popular in Lyon, perhaps none is more so than eating. Gastronomy is a vastly important component of the cultural dynamic of this second largest city in France. Its long and proud tradition in this area has earned the city the titles of “the city of food,” and the French “capital of gastronomy.” This is quite a distinction in a country that is filled with so many enviable regions for food and drink. The local produce, grapes for wine, wild game, and local cheeses and other delicacies will make their way into every part of your trip. Among the best and most relaxing things to do in Lyon France, is to simply sit back at one of the traditional bistros (called bouchons) and enjoy the traditional hearty dishes washed down with a glass of Beaujolais or Cotes du Rhone.
Roman Ruins and Cathedrals
You would be missing the mark on one of the best things to do in Lyon if you did not set aside time simply to walk around and take note of some of the most stunning works of architecture to be found anywhere in Western Europe. The gorgeous Notre Dame Basilica, Lyon Opera House, and the Roman ruins on Fourviere Hill are all must-sees for anyone traveling to this area.
Lyon has been a settlement since around the fourth century during the time of the Roman Empire.

It stands out even in France as having high-quality cuisine, and it packs a punch in terms of art and history. Trace the Romans with the amphitheatre that overlooks the city, check out world-famous art at the Musée des Beaux Arts, indulge in the historic UNESCO-recognised old quarter and look for the arcades that camouflaged the French Resistance as they fought against the Nazis.
The size of the city means you’ll need to use the metro to make the most of it. And of course, with a flexible Eurail pass, if you change your mind about where you want to go, Lyons has plenty of other routes with which to tempt you.
Find out what the Eurail pass is and how you can travel between top French cities and other European destinations in comfort.

Lyon, in east central France located where the Rhone and Saone meet, is the ideal destination for a city break. Sprinkled with a never ending supply of restaurants, and with over 22 Michelin Stars under its belt - this is the perfect place for a foodie. But if food doesn’t excite you as much as sport, then you can take pleasure in watching a world-class sporting event at football stadium Stade de Gerland. Some of the sports include basketball, hockey, rugby and football. Hiring a car in Lyon is so simple, we now have seven city locations, one of which can be found at Lyon Saint Exupery Airport.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IN 2013: LYON STILL ATTRACTIVE
According to a study presented by FNAIM/Cécim at the end of January, companies in the Lyon region bought or rented 252,000 sq. metres of office space last year, compared with 177,420 in Barcelona, 221,730 in Amsterdam, 227,290 in Milan and 150,420 in Manchester. Lyon continues to stand out due to its competitive rates, with an average price of €270 before tax per sq. metre, compared with €710 in Paris, €450 in Milan, €335 in Amsterdam and €400 in Manchester. On the other hand, the city has a smaller supply on offer in comparison with other cities, just 300,570 sq. metres available, compared with 884,210 sq. metres in Barcelona or more than 1.5 million sq. metres in Milan.
Amongst the biggest operations of 2013 in Lyon was the Alstom deal – the company acquired 29,100 sq. metres for their new headquarters in the Carré de Soie area, SNCF’s purchase of 22,000 sq. metres of the Incity Tower, more than half of its surface area, and the rental of 18,500 sq. metres for the new Sanofi headquarters in Gerland.

International relations, Lyon - Setif (Algeria)
- Economic development,
- Green spaces,
- Sustainable development,
- Urban planning.
Following the initial approaches made in 2006, Lyon and Setif (Algeria) have developed a technical and economic partnership, which entered its operational phase in 2010.
Lyon - Setif (Algeria) cooperation, key dates
In 2010, the El Atkik mosque was illuminated, thereby constituting a pilot project and an educational support in the plan to reinforce the skills of technicians in Setif, applied in the specific field of public lighting.
In 2011, a delegation exchange between Setif and Lyon was organised for businesses specialising in building, materials and real estate development. Since then, the economic stakeholders in the two agglomerations have been in regular contact to promote business flows and share good practices in the area of development.
In 2012, the cooperation by Lyon comprised the provision of its know-how to the programme for the redevelopment of Setif's amusement park. These actions allowed local stakeholders to validate their development choices and to design public spaces by bringing in other skills: sociology, economy, urban planning.
In 2012, Setif organised, with the help of the metropolis of Lyon, cultural days centred on exhibitions, concerts and a conference.
Another cultural measure - the “Noir et Blanc” programme led by Gertude II association - under way since 2003 in partnership with Algerian and French artists - makes available the homes of artists in Setif, Algiers, Jijel and Lyon.
Pascal L' Huillier
Métropole de Lyon - Economic development, employment and knowledge delegation
chef de projets coopération décentralisée

You’ve heard of Lyon, France, and maybe changed trains there. That was my only experience with Lyon, until recently. Many people told me how nice a city it is, how good the food, how much there is to do. I had to visit it for myself.
Lyon is a sprawling city, the third largest in France. There are a half million people, and more in surrounding suburbs. It’s also known as the second gastronomic capital of France, after Paris. Your stomach and palate can verify that claim!
Historically, Lyon is known for the silk trade. Several museums show you the history of the trade and also how things are made. I visited one (Soierie Saint Georges) whose only customers are the 40,000 châteaux all over France which need renovations of silk furnishings on a regular basis. Another I saw does screen prints of silk fabric. Most are now in the Croix Rousse district in the north part of the peninsula.
Much of what you want to see is going to be in Vieux Lyon, the old part of town, and on the peninsula just to the east, a narrow slice of land that lies between the rivers Saone and Rhône. There you’ll find shopping, many restaurants, and the big city buzz. Keep going east and you’ll find a larger urban center where most people and companies are, as well as two train stations, bus routes, and the tram. Lyon does have arrondissments, or districts, like Paris, though unlike Paris, they are not in any order. You can get tickets for 24 or 48 hours that cover tram, bus, and metro.
Here are some highlights of Lyon you won’t want to miss:
- Vieux Lyon, a large Renaissance district with buildings from the 15th and 16th centuries
- Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière is a beautifully constructed and decorated church on the hilltop. You can climb if you have the strength, or you can take the funicular (the first in the country, and one of two in Lyon) at St. Jean in Vieux Lyon for a metro ticket.
- Musée de Confluence: a Confluence is the joining of two rivers. At this southern point on the peninsula is the science center and anthropology museum.
- On the peninsula, visit the Place des Terreaux.

It has centuries-old traditions that are still in place today, but many of the facts and information about Lyon and its history have had to be held in safe keeping at the local museums. Other museums in Lyon celebrate everything from the visual arts to science and literature. Of all the things to do in Lyon France that are both educational and fun, visiting the Museum of Fine Arts, Textile Museum, and Musee d’Art Contemporain should be near the top of your list if you enjoy good museums.
Another of the best things to do in Lyon is to attend a professional performance at the National Opera House of Lyon. Over the years, a great many amazing performances and performers have taken the stage here. If there is a show that you are particularly interested in seeing, be sure to make your reservations as far in advance as possible.
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
There is plenty of green space in the capital of the Rhone-Alpes region. The Parc de la Tete d'Or is the largest park in any city in France. It contains a gorgeous boating lake, tons of opportunities for sports and activities, as well as a zoo that features the likes of giraffes, elephants, and tigers. You can even enjoy miniature golf and a miniature locomotive that is a smash with the children. There are always plenty of activities in Lyon to enjoy in the beautiful surrounding of nature.
Within an hour to three hours of driving, a number of fantastic ski resorts offer some of the best skiing in France. These resorts can serve as great day trips or complements to any Nice vacation.
The best things to do in Lyon are highly subjective choices, but if you plan on eating the local fare, checking out the shopping and cultural attractions, and enjoying all that the beautiful city has to offer outdoors, you will be sure to have a memorable time.

Uit de 17e en 18e eeuw zijn overgebleven: De Bartholdi Fontijn, het stadhuis, de barokke Chapelle Saint-Pierre, het Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon (17de en 18de eeuw), het historische ziekenhuis met een barokke kapel; de Temple du Change (17e en 18de eeuw), de voormalige beurs van Lyon, protestantse tempel sinds de 18e eeuw, het Place Bellecour, een van de grootste stadspleinen in Europa; de Chapelle de la Trinite (1622), de eerste barokke kapel gebouwd in Lyon en een deel van de voormalige École de la Trinite, nu Collège-Lycee Ampère.
photo: Chabe01, CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International no changes made
Lille was elected European Capital of Culture in 2004, along with the Italian city of Genoa. Lille has different architectural styles, with a lot of influence from Flemish architecture through the use of brown and red brick. characteristic are the two to three storey terraced houses with narrow back gardens. This is unusual in France.
Lille's street scene is a transition from the architecture of France to the neighboring countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and England, where brick houses were built in large numbers. Architectural heritage includes the Gothic style of the Middle Ages (Saint-Maurice and Sainte-Catherine churches); the Renaissance (Houses in Rue Basse), Flemish Mannerists in Vieille Bourse (Old Stock Exchange), House of Gilles de la BoE), Classical style (Saint-Étienne, Saint-Andre churches, the Citadelle), Gothic Revival (Cathedrale Notre-Dame- de-la-Treille), Art Nouveau (House Coilliot), regional Art-Deco - Hôtel de Ville (town hall) and Euralille's contemporary modern structures.
Construction of a main urban project - the Euralille began in 1991. The center was opened in 1994 and the renewed district is now full of parks and modern buildings with offices, shops and apartments.

The most unique culinary specialty is something known as "quenelles," a type of dumpling (made with ground fish) in a rich cream sauce. Built on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse hillside as you can see in Lyon attractions map, this historic neighborhood was an important center of weaving in the early 19th-century. Because of the high gradient of the streets, there are many charming curves and staircases. Another tourist attraction in this area is the Maison des Canuts (House of Silk Workers) at 10/12 Rue d'Ivry. This small museum is dedicated to the art of creating silk.
Lyon Presqu'ile District as its mentioned in Lyon attractions map is a piece of land, sort of like an island, within the river. This neighborhood is distinguished by its beautiful architecture and monumental town squares. The Place des Terreaux is worth visiting just to see the fountain by F.A. Bartholdi. Housed in an 18th-century Lyonnais mansion are two superb museums: the Fabric Museum and the Museum of Decorative Arts. The Musée des Tissus (Fabric Museum) is a unique museum that allows visitors to discover the fascinating history of Lyon silk trade, dating back to the Renaissance period. In a majestic location on the Colline de Fourvière (the hill that overlooks Vieux Lyon), the Basilique Notre-Dame rises to a height of 130 meters above the Saone River. The Basilica is accessible by funiculars running up the hill.
The Lyon zoo map shows recommended tours of the Lyon Zoological Park. This zoo map of Lyon will allow you to easily find out where each animal is and where to picnic in the Zoological Park of Lyon in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes - France. The Lyon zoo map is downloadable in PDF, printable and free.
Parc de la Tête d'Or (literally, Golden Head Park), in central Lyon , is the largest urban park in France at 117 hectares as you can see in Lyon zoo map. Located in the 6th arrondissement , it features a large lake on which boating takes place during the summer months. Due to the relatively small number of other parks in Lyon, it receives a huge number of visitors over summer, and is a frequent destination for joggers and cyclists.

Lyon's Cuisine is Alive and Well
Paris and the Côte d’Azur, Lyon
has always enjoyed gastronomy of world-renown. Some
of its glorious restaurants did not survive, such
as the illustrious La Mère Brazier, but under
the auspices of Paul Bocuse, who will turn 81 on February
11, 2007, a new generation of chefs has marched into
the kitchens, adding their own creativity to their
cuisine is in great part built on the products from
its surrounding area: prime Charolais beef, lambs
and sheep from Loire and Auvergne, Bresse poultry,
butter and milk from the mountains nearby.
is as strong as ever, with a new creative attitude.
The “Toques Blanches Lyonnaises” (an association
of eager chefs) has recruited new members, totaling
a hundred chefs, some of them already well-known,
but many belonging to the new generation.
Paget of Le
Fleurie appears to be the leader of this
trend. Running his restaurant with his wife Jacinthe
and a lean staff, he offers a wonderful menu every
day with a bargain prix-fixe price of just 13,50 Euros
and a magnificent Beaujolais wine list.
Viola, who won the distinctive prize of “Meilleur
Ouvrier de France” in 2004, has settled in a
landmark Lyonnaise "bouchon" (local name
for a typical bistro) called Daniel
et Denise. He kept well-known dishes
on his menu, such as the famous “Tablier de
sapeur,” tripe dipped in egg and breadcrumbs,
grilled and served with a mayonnaise sauce composed
of blended hard-boiled egg yolks, capers and mixed
herbs, with chopped hard-boiled egg white added.
Viannay, another winner of the “Meilleur
Ouvrier de France” award, is also typical representative
of this new generation, whose philosophy and goal
is to please diners at moderate prices. Viannay performs
a sharp, creative style of cuisine for a considerate
bill of fare at his establishment named after himself,
development of note in Lyon is the renovation of the
wholesale food market, located in the city center.
As well, Mayor Gérard Collomb plans to launch
a federation of the gourmet cities of Europe.

And the great provincial cities like Lille and Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille and Nice vie with the capital and each other, like the city-states of old, for prestige in the arts, ascendancy in sport and innovation in urban transport.
For a thousand years and more, France has been at the cutting edge of
and the legacy of this wealth, energy and experience is everywhere evident in the astonishing variety of things to see: from the Gothic cathedrals of the north to the Romanesque churches of the centre and west, the chA?teaux of the Loire, the Roman monuments of the south, the ruined castles of the English and the Cathars and the Dordogne's prehistoric cave-paintings. If not all the legacy is so tangible - the literature, music and ideas of the 1789 Revolution, for example - much has been recuperated and illustrated in museums and galleries across the nation, from colonial history to fishing techniques, aeroplane design to textiles, migrant shepherds to manicure, battlefields and coalmines.
Many of the
are models of clarity and modern design. Among those that the French do best are museums devoted to local arts, crafts and customs like the MusAİe National des Arts et Traditions Populaires in Paris and the MusAİe Dauphinois in Grenoble. But inevitably first place must go to the fabulous collections of fine art, many of which are in
for the simple reason that the city has nurtured so many of the finest creative artists of the last hundred years, both French, Monet and Matisse for example, and foreign, such as Picasso and Van Gogh.
If you are quite untroubled by a need to improve your mind in the contemplation of old stones and works of art, France is equally well endowed to satisfy to satisfy the grosser appetites. The French have made a high art of daily life: eating, drinking, dressing, moving and simply being.

Lyon, Where to Stay
You will find this information in this article
La Croix-Rousse is located between the Saône and Rhône Rivers and is on the opposite hill to Vieux Lyon and Fourvière. Traditionally known as the silk weaving area, there are still remnants of this industry throughout La Croix-Rousse. A short walk into the Lyon City centre, La Croix-Rousse is well serviced by the Metro, including the Funicular. While this area is primarily residential there is plenty of appeal in its bistros, markets, winding streets and small shops. A great place to stay to experience suburban French life, explore local markets and squares and eat might fine food at local Bouchon.
Vieux Lyon and Fourvière
Located in the 5th arrondissement, this is really the historic heart of Lyon, the Lyon Old Town. Fourvière was chosen by the Romans for their Capital City of Gaul. The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is perched on the hill, overlooking Vieux Lyon the UNESCO protected Renaissance area. Spend hours wandering around the Vieu Lyon taking in the 15th and 16th Century Palaces of wealthy Italian bankers, discover the Traboules which connect streets via secret passageways, or spend time reflecting in the Cathedral St Jean. There are plenty of restaurants, museums and bars in Vieux Lyon and Fourvière, so it is a great place to stay if you love history, and want to be in the thick of it. Be warned though, this area is on the side of a hill so although you may have tired legs you will have great views.
Bellecour and Hôtel de Ville
Bellecour and Hôtel de Ville, in the 2nd Arrondissement, are the heart of Lyon. are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site between the Saône and Rhône Rivers. Place Bellecour is a large public square in the middle of the City, it is the largest pedestrian square in Europe. The Lyon Tourism Information Centre is located in Place Bellecour, so it is definitely worth a visit. The Bellecour and Hôtel de Ville area is home to Lyon’s top museums including the Museum of Fine Arts and Museum of Textiles. The National Opera is located here, along with plenty of high-end shopping and restaurants.

Les Subsistances are a heritage site with a rich history. While the site’s first traces of occupation date back to the 2nd century CE (glass workshop and Gallic pink granite quarry), it is the last four centuries that have really left their mark. Since the 17th century, Les Subsistances have had three major uses: first as a convent (buildings in pink ochre), then as a military garrison (buildings in pink ochre), and since 2000, as a cultural centre. Today it combines the International Laboratory for Artistic Creation dedicated to theatre, dance, and contemporary circus, and the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Lyon.
Yesterday… in the 17th C… a Convent
Set between the Croix-Rousse and Fourvière hills, the Serin quarter enjoys a strategic position. Easy to defend, it marks the Northern Entry into Lyon. To block access to the city at night, the guards strung a chain upstream across the Saône, and another at St-Georges to block entry from the South. The river gave rise to all sorts of fantastic tales, such as the one told for centuries about the Machecroute, a type of enormous aquatic dragon said to be responsible for the numerous floods the city suffered: a single flick of its tail caused the waters to rise. A stela at the street-side entrance to the restaurant shows the level of the 1840 flood.
In 1640, the Sisters of the Visitation acquired the land and had a small cloister built where the restaurant now stands, and a church along the grillwork that today separates the site from the riverbanks. Together these formed the convent of Ste-Marie des Chaînes. Renting the vast surrounding lands and selling produce from the vines and orchards around the cloister provided the sisters a comfortable life. The convent prospered and counted up to 70 persons, most of whom were girls from wealthy families. Though the convent began to have financial difficulties in 1700, wealthy young girls continued to come in large numbers, so the mother superior, Sister Sépharique d’Honoraty, decided to have a larger convent built.
Legend has it that before construction began, she announced: “to spare expenses, we will forgo an architect. I will draw up the plans myself, and may God confound us if we don’t succeed”!

La Croix-Rousse is the old silk-weavers’ district and spreads up the steep slopes of the hill above the northern end of the Presqu’île. Although increasingly gentrified, it’s still predominantly a working-class area, but barely a couple of dozen people operate the modern high-speed computerized looms that are kept in business by the restoration and maintenance of France’s palaces and châteaux.
Along with Vieux Lyon, it was in this district that the traboules flourished. Officially the traboules are public thoroughfares during daylight hours, but you may find some closed for security reasons. The long climb up the part-pedestrianized Montée de la Grande Côte, however, still gives an idea of what the quartier was like in the sixteenth century, when the traboules were first built. One of the original traboules, Passage Thiaffait on rue Réné-Leynaud, has been refurbished to provide premises for young couturiers.

It is tempting to suggest that a drawing such as the ornamental frame after Macchietti might have served a similar rôle, perhaps even to display another drawing or print – Vasari, for example, made similar use of architectural borders, creating them specifically for use with his own collection of drawings by other artists, such as for this Christ in glory by Ghirlandaio in the Albertina.
By the time that Corneille was working in Lyon and making a reputation for himself, the architectural style which had developed in central and northern Italy was spreading through Europe, partly via the School of Fontainebleau. François I of France had imported the Italian artists Rosso Fiorentino (from 1530 to 1540) and Francesco Primaticcio (from 1532 until c.1559) to work on the interior of the château de Fontainebleau, a project which was extremely influential in propagating the Mannerist style in France (it was François’s daughter-in-law, Catherine de’ Medici, who patronized Corneille de Lyon). Mannerist picture frames were one of the related developments; framemakers, like other furniture makers, used the same architectural forms, but could afford to take more liberties in the execution than builders could. Thus the context was ideal for generating a style of framing for these small portraits consistent with the patterns which have been associated with them for so long. However, it has not been clear until this point whether the aedicular frames associated with the Corneille portraits were made in France, or – as it turns out – were obtained from Italy. The jewel-like quality of the portraits must have influenced the choice of frame, underlining the preciousness of the picture; but a further question must then be, when was this choice made? – when were these particular frames chosen?.
The art market
Corneille de Lyon (c.1500/10–d.1575), François, dauphin de France, o/panel, 15.4 x 13.5 cm., Haboldt & Co., TEFAF 2018
Corneille de Lyon (c.1500/10–d.1575), Portrait d’homme, probablement un officier royal, c.1545-50, o/panel, 7.1 x 6 ins (18.1 x 15.2 cm.

Lyon is the third-largest city of France. It is located in the country's east-central part at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, about 470 km (292 mi) south from Paris, 320 km (199 mi) north from Marseille.
The city is known for its cuisine and gastronomy, and historical and architectural landmarks; part of it is a registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The noted food critic Curnonsky referred to the city as "the gastronomic capital of the world", a claim repeated by later writers such as Bill Buford. Renowned 3-star Michelin chefs such as Marie Bourgeois and Eugénie Brazier developed Lyonnaise cuisine into a national phenomenon favoured by the French elite; a tradition which Paul Bocuse later turned into a worldwide success.
The bouchon is a traditional Lyonnais restaurant that serves local fare such as sausages, duck pâté or roast pork, along with local wines. Two of France's best known wine-growing regions are located near the city: the Beaujolais region to the north and the Côtes du Rhône region to the south.
yon played a significant role in the history of cinema: it is where Auguste and Louis Lumière invented the cinematograph in 1895. The Institut Lumière, built as Auguste Lumiere's house, and a fascinating piece of architecture in its own right, holds many of their first inventions and other early cinematic and photographic artefacts.
Economically, Lyon was historically an important area for the production and weaving of silk, now the city is a major centre for banking, as well as for the chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries.
- The Roman ruins on the hillside near the Fourvière Basilica with the Ancient Theatre of Fourvière, the Odeon of Lyon and the accompanying Gallo-Roman Museum;
- Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls, Roman ruins of an amphitheatre.
- Cathedral of St.

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#Now A UNESCO World Heritage City (ARA) - Lyon, France has long been known to sophisticated travelers as the culinary capitol of France. It is now emerging as a "must-do" destination for a broader range of American travelers because of the many other attractions it offers to visitors. A trip there is easier than ever, with a direct six-hour flight Delta Airlines now offers between New York's JFK and Lyon's Saint-Exupéry airport, named in 1999 in tribute to the author and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a native of Lyon who wrote 'The Little Prince.'
Recently named a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage City because of its illustrious 2,000-year history, France's second-largest city is brimming with activities and attractions. With its world-renowned cuisine, architecture (boasting the second largest Renaissance quarter in Europe), museums, and picturesque nightly lighting of monuments, Lyon is a place that is renowned for its quality of life. The past is alive in such landmarks as the Gallo-Roman Amphitheater, used for concerts today, and the Croix-Rousse Hill, the center of the silk industry in the 1800s. Its Renaissance quarter is by no means a mere testament to the past, as it stil thrives with daily activity, from hotels to restaurants to shops.
A visit to Lyon makes the pages of a European history book come alive to travelers. Today, life goes on in a city and metropolitan area spanning some 124,000 acres, 1,250 of those acres constitute the historic sector that is now included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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Have you tried crunchy duck skin called "friton" or pork skin called "graton"?
Something I appreciated in our stay in Lyon is the practice of "plat du jour" or the "formulaire." We are familiar with the daily specials in the U.S., but in Lyon, it is usual practice.
The formulaire consists of an entree' (appetizer), a main dish, and a dessert. Sometimes you can choose two or mix and match with items on the main menu. All drinks are extra. The average price for a formulaire is about 14 euros lunch or dinner!
The French love to eat out and socialize. The reasonable price allows everyone, including ourselves, to enjoy eating out without breaking the bank.
It is not unusual to have a 2-hour lunch break (longer at dinner). No one will prompt you to pay your bill. You'll sometimes be hard-pressed to find your server.
On the slopes of the Croix-Rousse, the second of two hills over Lyon, are vintage shops, small restaurants, and bars, residences of what used to be a town of silk weavers. The Croix-Rousse is locally called la colline qui travaille or the hill that works to reflect its silk weaver history.
Its history goes back to 1536 when King Francois, gave Lyon the right to produce silk to compete with Venice, the only silk producer then. Silk production quickly became a significant industry in Lyon up until the 19th century. Half the population of Lyon depended on silk production and trade. At one point, 40,000 silk weavers worked in various silk ateliers.
Silk workers started in Vieux Lyon and eventually moved to the Croix-Rousse neighborhood in the 19th century. Many of the houses in Croix-Rousse will have high ceilings, which used to house the large silk looms.
In 1801, Jean Marie Jacquard invented the jacquard loom. This power loom used wooden punch cards to program the operation of the machine. The jacquard loom reduced the number of weavers per loom from two to one.
Silk workers, called "canuts" lost many jobs as a result of the new loom. The Canuts staged the first mass uprising in France in 1834, protesting the loss of jobs and poor working conditions.

18 rue de Bonald, 69007 Lyon
Tel: 04 37 37 44 54
Resistance and Deportation History Centre
On Avenue Berthelot in Lyon stands this grand, slightly gloomy building... A former military medical school, occupied by the Gestapo between 1943-1944, the place has a painful history. It is now the Resistance and Deportation History Centre. The permanent exhibition is moving, returning to a time that profoundly marked Lyon's history.
14 avenue Berthelot, 69007 Lyon
Tel: 04 78 72 23 11
Galerie Roger Tator
At the Galerie Roger Tator, nothing is too enclosed... They love being open to the various arts, design, modern art, architecture, sound... as well as being open to the world, open to the city. Certain guest artists have even gone so far as to demolish the walls and facade... Completely open, you've been told!
36 rue d'Anvers, 69007 Lyon
Tel: 04 78 58 83 12
We sometimes forget that cinema originated in Lyon! The Institut Lumière is part museum, part cinema - of course! - with very good retrospectives and even a major cinema festival, the Festival Lumière in the autumn. We recommend the Épouvantables vendredis or the opportunity to see (again) the best horror films in the history of cinema, every Friday 13th or almost 13th...
25 rue du Premier film, 69008 Lyon
Tel: 04 78 78 18 95
Musée de l'imprimerie
The Musée de l'Imprimerie is nestled on the Presqu’île, not far from the Rue de la Gerbe. The museum is worth the detour just for the beautiful renaissance building that it occupies. This journey into the world of print and handwriting is very instructive!
13 rue Poulaillerie, 69002 Lyon
Tel: 04 78 37 65 98
Concerts, theatre, circus, readings... A wonderful, always eclectic programme at Subsistances. And in the restaurant, Quai des Arts, you can enjoy fabulous Sunday brunches - an all-you-can-eat buffet that you'll never want to leave because it's so good!

Lyon sits about 300 miles southeast of Paris and 200 miles northeast of Marseille. Because the city is relatively far inland, temperatures here are a bit cooler than the rest of France, but it’s still pretty temperate. Even in the dead of winter, it averages between 32 and 43 degrees.
In fact, winter can be a lovely time to visit Lyon, especially if your visit coincides with the Fête des Lumières—or Festival of Lights—when nearly every household in the city places candles along the outsides of its windows in honor of the Virgin Mary. The tradition usually lasts for four days, around December 8th, and has been held since 1643, when Lyon was hit by the plague and its residents begged the Virgin Mary for mercy. Today, it is celebrated with an elaborate light display at the Basilica of Fourvière and culminates in a light show at the Place des Terreaux.
Lyon is certainly lovely in the spring, summer and fall, too. Temperatures start to warm up in May, averaging between 50 and 68 degrees. By July, average temperatures can rise as high as 80 degrees. When autumn creeps in, it cools down a bit, with averages between 47 and 62 degrees in October. And there’s another advantage of visiting Lyon during this warm stretch: It’s not as overrun as other French cities. During July and August, when millions of locals and tourists clog up the hotels and resorts along the coast, Lyon is a lot quieter.

Lyon Bleu International is a private school which has offered French language courses since 1999, located in the city centre of Lyon 2nd largest city in France.
In the heart of the city, our school offers a harmonious and convivial environment for French language courses, a stone’s throw from the historical centre of Lyon on one side and the business district on the other, at the crossroads of numerous choices of public transport, in a stylish and lively neighbourhood.
Learn French in Lyon
Lyon has a very rich cultural heritage and is famous for its gastronomy and vineyards and more recently for its football team and art. At the crossroads of the main European cities, close to the Mediterranean sea and Alpine ski resorts, Lyon is perfectly located for people wanting to visit France and Europe. Lyon also offers a very dynamic cultural life and a variety of entertainment opportunities.
At Lyon Bleu International we offer and provide:
1. A wide range of french language courses suited to your objectives, your available time and budget
2. Small groups with a maximum of 12 participants from very different countries, for better progression and better value for money
3. Well trained and motivated French teachers
4. An efficient and competent administrative staff to answer all your questions, to help you with the formalities of registration for a French course, for your visa or quite simply to advise and assist you.
5. A friendly and studious atmosphere in which to learn French
6. Carefully selected French host families and residences for accommodation
7. Daily cultural activities in order to practice your French
8. Preparation for French international exams: DELF/DALF
9. 14 fully equiped classrooms, a student’s room equipped with PCs for use by students, Wi-fi Internet connection, a non smoker environment (a particular exterior area reserved for smokers), a book and Video/DVD library service
10. A Guarantee of Quality.
- Lyon Bleu International is a French professional training organisation certified by the French government.
- Lyon Bleu is accredited and certified by Label Qualité Fle and member of Campus France

BP 22, 50170 Mont-Saint-Michel, France, Phone: +33 (0) 2 14 13 20 15
13.Musee des Beaux-Arts de Lyon
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The foundations of this museum date back to the 6th century, when the walls that now encompass priceless art surrounded an ancient abbey. It wasn't until September 20, 1814, however, that the site was inaugurated as a true museum of fine art by the Count of Artois. Over the last 200 years, the museum has developed into one of the largest in Europe, housing over 8,000 antiquities, 3,000 decorative objects, 40,000 coins and medals, 2,500 paintings, and 1,300 sculptures. The vast collection is exhibited in over 70 rooms to offer visitors an outstanding and varied sampling of art from antiquity to contemporary that reignites the enthusiasm for artistic discovery.
20 Place des Terreau, 69001 Lyon, France, Phone: +33 (0) 4 72 10 30 30
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Built in an old railway station in the center of Paris, the Musée d'Orsay was constructed for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. A work of art in and of itself, the glass-ceilinged building houses a treasure trove of art dating from 1848-1914. From paintings to sculpture and photographs to graphic arts, many of the most influential artists of the period grace the walls and floors of this old station. Throughout its three floors, visitors will find pieces from the Louvre, Musée de Jeu de Paume, and the National Museum of Modern Art arranged in a moving tour of the impressionist and modernist periods.
1, Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 75007 Paris, France, Phone: +33 (0) 1 40 49 48 14
Vacation ideas: Glasgow, Lisbon, Niagara Falls, Toronto, D.C., San Juan, Scottsdale, Santorini, Melbourne
15.Museum of Gallo-Roman Civilization
© Courtesy of Jo¨rg Hackemann - Fotolia.com
Before France, there was Gaul, the domain of the Romans, and Lyon was its crown jewel.

The gilt leather industry also developed in England, and especially London. In the first half of the 18th century, English manufacturers excelled in the production of hangings and screens decorated with "chinoiseries".
A French craze
In France, the kingdom's elite developed a craze for Spanish gilt leathers during the 16th century. The first workshops were created in Paris, notably by Jehan Fourcault and Julien Lunel, and were then encouraged by Henri IV. Outside the capital, others started up in Rouen and Lille, and in the Rhône Valley in Lyon, Carpentras, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille and above all Avignon. In the first half of the 17th century, two production centres predominated. In Paris, Jean-Baptiste Delfosse, the best-known producer, supplied the royal family, as we can see from the Journal of the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne. Unfortunately, none of these Paris decors has survived. In Avignon, the most famous workshop belonged to the Boissier family, and passed from father to son for over a century. In 1712, the family's most celebrated exponent, Raymond Boissier, published a sales catalogue; a copy of this is now in the Avignon library.
Today, over a thousand antique gilt leathers are listed in France in public and private collections. Although there are far fewer historiated versions, their decoration is the most striking, as witness the hangings now in the Château d’Écouen and one illustrating the retinue of "David Victorious", once on show in the Château de Ferrières and then in the Hôtel Lambert in Paris. Although plentiful, the number of surviving decorative gilt leathers with repetitive patterns is nowhere near the huge quantity that once existed. They are found mainly in numerous chapels and churches in the Alps and the Pyrenees.
Gilt leathers and their sumptuous designs disappeared everywhere at the same time, at the end of the 18th century. They soon fell into oblivion, despite intermittent attempts to revive them (particularly in France) in the late 19th century and up to the present day, but using very different techniques and materials.

Lyon is not a top of mind city in France. It has the elegance of Paris, but without the attitude. This city of the Lyonnais gourmand can rack up Michelin Star restaurants and impress with several UNESCO World Heritage sites.
We visited Lyon three years ago on a fluke. We had been traveling to Geneva on vacation, and I wanted to visit France before leaving the continent. The city closest to Geneva was Lyon, only a 90-minute ride on the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse). We visited Lyon for a short but amazing three days. At the end of the trip, we promised ourselves that we would come back for an extended visit one day in the future.
That day came sooner than expected. We lived in Lyon this past year, and I did not want to leave. People who visit Lyon agree that it is like discovering a hidden gem. It has the feel of Paris without the crowds, the traffic, and definitely without the attitude.
What We Will Cover:
Lyon is smack in the center of the country (east-central, actually). It is 90 minutes southeast of Paris on the TGV. From the Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), you can take a TGV going to Marseille (and points to the South of France), and Lyon will be the first stop.
There are 6 train stations in Lyon, but there are two that you need to know. The central station is Gare de Lyon Part-Dieu. If you are going or coming from a major city in France or internationally, Part-Dieu will be your station. Gare de Lyon Perrache was the original central train station until the 1980s. Perrache could be an alternative station depending on your schedule. Part-Dieu is located on the west bank of the Rhone River while Perrache is on the Presqu'ile. It is very convenient for those who live north of Lyon and walk-able to anywhere on the Presqu'ile. Perrache is normally a continuing stop in Lyon after Part-Dieu (8 minutes to Perrache).
Lyon also has an international airport called Lyon Airport Saint Expuery (LYS), named after Antoine Saint Exupery of Little Prince fame, who was born there. The airport is on the far west side.

You can find on this page the Lyon tourist map to print and to download in PDF. The Lyon tourist attractions map presents the monuments, museums, parks and points of interest of Lyon in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes - France.
The Lyon sightseeing map shows all tourist places and points of interest of Lyon. This tourist attractions map of Lyon will allow you to easily plan your visits of landmarks of Lyon in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes - France. The Lyon tourist map is downloadable in PDF, printable and free.
France second-most important city after Paris is surprisingly undiscovered. Although Lyon does not often make it onto tourist itineraries, many cultural treasures await those who take the time to explore the city. With a history dating back to ancient Roman times, Lyon has earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The city boasts France oldest ancient ruins, medieval quarters, and fine Renaissance houses as its shown in Lyon tourist map. The happiest of all visitors are the ones who journey here to sample the famous cuisine. The celebrated Michelin-starred Auberge du Pont de Collonges, 10 kilometers from Lyon, was helmed by legendary French chef Paul Bocuse for decades and is still a top destination for gourmands. Authentic Lyonnais gastronomy can also be enjoyed all over Lyon at bouchons, small cozy bistros that serve traditional local specialties.
Many of the top attractions in Lyon are illuminated at night, earning Lyon the nickname of Capital of Lights. Home to some of the finest chefs in the world, the city is also known as the capital of gastronomy, offering travelers yet another tasty reason to visit lovely Lyon. If you like the medieval Marais district in Paris, you will love Vieux Lyon. The pink-and-ochre Old Town is Europe largest Renaissance quarter as you can see in Lyon tourist map. The cobbled streets, Italianate courtyards and maze of hidden passageways are fascinating to explore. These alleyways and passageways are known as traboules. Their original purpose was to provide shelter from the weather for the silk-weavers as they moved their delicate pieces of work from one part of the manufacturing process to another.
Nationally, the 2nd conference and show city and 35th in Europe, every year Lyon hosts some sixty congresses and around a hundred shows.

This exhibit is called Musee des Hospices Civils.
No trip to Lyon would be complete without a visit to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere. This minor basilica was built in 1896 with the use of private funds. It was designed by Pierre Bossan and combines elements of the Byzatine and Romanesque architectural styles. The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere features four main towers and is adorned with stained glass, mosaics and the crypt of St. Joseph. And its pinnacle is a gold gilded statue of the Virgin Mary. The basilica is also home to the Museum of Sacred Art. This beautiful basilica is located on top of Fourviere hill and receives over one and a half million visitors each and every year.
Lyon is a city that is rich in history as much as its rich in culture. This French city has almost too many attractions and historical locations to list in one place. But, some of the more prominent locations, not already covered here, include the Tour metallique de Fourviere, Sainte Marie de La Tourette Monestary, Opera National de Lyon, Cathedrale Saint-Jean, Basilica of St-Martin-d’Ainay, La Mouche Cattle Market and Abbatoir and the The doorway of St. Nizier’s.

The 17th-c. church is carved out of the hill and surrounded by buildings. It has a very famous organ, created by Augustin Zeiger from Lyon in 1841. It was the first "grand 16-foot" built in Lyon after the French Revolution.
Le passe touristique et culturel incontournable pour profiter au mieux de votre séjour à Lyon.
Croisières, visites guidées, excursions, etc.

The best and most economical way to get there is to take a tram connection from Part-Dieu called Rhone Express. The Rhone Express leaves every 30 minutes and it is a 45 minute trip to the airport at a cost of 19 euros each way. A taxi, depending on the time of day, would cost between 80 to 120 euros. Uber is available and would be slightly cheaper.
The Presqu'ile or the peninsula is city-center and great place to start your tour. The peninsula is a narrow strip of land land between the Rhone River and Saone River which run through Lyon.
When on the Presqu'ile, you will gravitate towards Place Bellecour. It is the main square in Lyon (ground zero in GPS) and all festivals, events, activities and protests happen here. You will know Place Bellecour with the statue of Louis IV in the center. Place Bellecour is also the starting point of the shopping district which is pedestrian-only up to the Les Terraux district. This is a wonderful place to walk, shop, have some coffee or a meal. The peninsula is connected by bridges or walk paths over the two rivers. There is a metro-tram system. There is a boat taxi you can take on the west bank of the River Saone, that will go to the Confluence district.
For more info, check out Getting Around Lyon.
Before getting to Lyon or before you start your tour, it is a good idea to get a quick understanding of its history.
Know that Lyon was established in 43 BC before Gaul was conquered by the Romans. The Romans started incursions into Gaul in 200 BC, annexing the South of France in 125 BC. Julius Caesar completed its conquest of Gaul in 52 BC.
Lyon started as a military settlement. In those days, land was granted to military veterans in exchange for loyalty to the republic. Known as "Lugdunum" then, Lyon quickly became the capital of Gaul for the Roman Republic.
Location was advantageous to the Romans. It was close enough to Italy and easily accessible without crossing the Alps. It was central enough to Germany, which was their next country to conquer. With a system of roads, two large rivers for transport and two hills for security, Lyon became the primary trading partner with the Romans and later, Italy, for centuries even after the fall of the Roman Empire.

In Lyon, the Confluence is the meeting point downriver between the Saône and the Rhone Rivers. The Lyonnaise seem to dwell on the Confluence. Actually, it was a very industrial area and over the past 15 years or so, the city's Chamber of Commerce converted this area into a shopping center and a museum area.
I walked all the way to the end of the point that marks the Confluence (see photo above) and ceremoniously dipped my hand in the water to become "a part of Lyon," a city I have come to love very much over the past month.
Here is an aerial photo of the Confluence.
And, a close-up of the point.
The city erected a sculpture near the Confluence with its motto, "Only Lyon" and its signature lion mascot.
By the way, the name of Lyon has nothing to do with lions. It is a shortened form of Lugdunum, one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire outside of Rome itself. Nevertheless, the area has been inhabited since pre-historic times. For background on its ancient history, see my blog post on the Gallo-Roman Museum (coming soon).
This very odd-shaped building is Le Musee des Confluences. It is built at the tip of land where the Saône (on the left and the slow river) and Rhône Rivers (on the right) meet: thus, the confluence.
The museum houses very creative exhibits of natural history, evolution, the solar system, anthropology--and even an Antarctica exhibit, which I liked the best.
Here are some of the other exhibits.

8 Place de Fourvière, City of Lyon, Rhône-Alpes, France, Phone: +33 4 78 25 13 01
8.Grand Parc de Miribel Jonage
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The 14th most visited site in France, Parc Mirabel Jonage is not only a beautiful getaway from urban life, it is also responsible for providing Lyon with drinking water. Visitors will discover that the Rhone River connects the various ecological components of the park with each other as well as provides fishing and aquatic activities for visitors. With vast swaths of nature interspersed with horse riding centers, day camps, bicycle trails, beaches, and restaurants, this park is the perfect destination to get away from it all. Except, to do so, visitors only have to travel 15 minutes northeast of Lyon's urban core.
Chemin de la Bletta, Vaulx en Velin (Lyon), Rhône-Alpes, France, Phone: +33 (0) 4 78 80 30 67
9.Institut & Musee Lumiere
© Courtesy of MangAllyPop@ER - Fotolia.com
It was in the heart of Lyon's Monplaisir neighborhood at the Villa Lumière that film began. In 1894, the first film tests on the now-famous Cinematograph took place in the Lumière brothers' villa. Like a firestorm, their invention gave rise to film screenings of the early 20th century and prompted the brothers to further perfect the ability to record film. At their villa, their original animated images are housed side by side with some of the brothers' other inventions like the Photorama (for 360-degree panoramic pictures), the stereoscopic projector (for 3D films), and their surprisingly articulated "pincer hand," designed by Louis Lumière to aid amputees from the First World War.
25 Rue du Premier Film, 69008 Lyon, France, Phone: +33 (0) 4 78 78 18 95
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The Army Museum is located at the heart of the Hôtel National des Invalides, where treasures from antiquity to World War II are housed. Created in 1905, this military museum has the third biggest collection of old weapons and armor in the world.

In this context, art was integrated into the courtly or aristocratic way of life, as part of a culture of spectacle, which functioned to distinguish the nobles who frequented the court from other social classes and to legitimate the ruler’s power in the eyes of the world (see for example, Elias, 1983; Adamson, 1999; Blanning, 2002). The consolidation of power in the hands of a fairly small number of European monarchs meant that their need for ideological justification was all the greater and so too were the resources they had at their disposal for the purpose. Exemplary in this respect is the French king Louis XIV (ruled 1643–1715), who harnessed the arts to the service of his own autocratic rule in the most conspicuous manner imaginable. From 1661 onwards, he employed the architects Louis Le Vau (1612/13–1670) and Jules Hardouin-Mansart (1648–1708), the painter Charles Le Brun (1619–90) and the landscape gardener André Le Nôtre (1613–1700), among many others, to create the vast and lavish palace of Versailles, not far from Paris. Every aspect of its design glorified the king, not least by celebrating the military exploits that made France the dominant power in Europe during his reign.
Bürger’s Functions of Art: Bourgeois Art
By 1800, however, the predominant category was what Bürger calls ‘bourgeois art’. His use of this term reflects his reliance on a broadly Marxist conceptual framework, which views artistic developments as being driven ultimately by social and economic change (Bürger, 1984, p. 47; Hemingway and Vaughan, 1998). Such art is bourgeois in so far as it owed its existence to the growing importance of trade and industry in Europe since the late medieval period, which gave rise to an increasingly large and influential wealthy middle class. Exemplary in this respect is seventeenth-century Dutch painting, the distinctive features and sheer profusion of which were both made possible by a large population of relatively affluent city-dwellers. In other countries, the commercialization of society and the urban development that went with it tended to take place more slowly.

In the 12th century Montpellier was the second most important city in France, in both economic and cultural terms. Founded in the 13th century, the university also contributed greatly to development: Montpellier still boasts an internationally acclaimed medical faculty and the oldest botanical garden in France.
The 17th and 18th centuries were the height of Montpellier’s wealth, when rich merchants built the most luxurious ‘hôtels particuliers’. The gables of these town houses are impressive in themselves, but behind the façades you can find even more beautiful courtyards with spiral staircases and ornate railings. Most can only be visited during a guided tour organised by the Office du Tourisme. But one of the loveliest examples is open to the public: Hôtel de Varennes. This building houses 2 museums. The 18th-century façade of the Musée du Vieux Montpellier hides a much older interior with Gothic arches. You will find more beautiful town houses around Place de la Canourgue, a 17th-century square with a marble fountain and a view of the cathedral. A few streets down, a home owner uncovered one of the oldest Jewish ritual baths in Europe. Looking for the source of a leak, the owner stumbled across a 13th-century ‘mikveh’, a stone bath used in Jewish cleansing rituals.

Lyon is one of the most popular clubs in France with a vast fan base on par with Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille. The club achieved moderate success during the 1960s and 1970s led by the likes of Bernard Lacombe and Jean Djorkaeff, while the golden era of the French side came at the start of the new millennium when Lyon began to achieve greater success both in France and on the international level. It was not until 2002 that Lyon won their first ever Ligue 1 title which sparked an ongoing national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles. During that time Lyon were regular participants of the UEFA Champions League. The French club reached quarter-finals on two occasions, while they even played in the semi-finals in the 2009-10 season.

Before you leave the Basilica, you should not miss going around to the esplanade. There you will see the most fantastic view of Lyon. On a clear day, you can see as far as Mont Blanc.
Historically, European cuisine had been unremarkable until the arrival of the French influence in the mid-17th century. French cooking in itself had its beginnings in the Middle Ages. The reign of Catherine de Medici, who was married to King Henry II of France in the 16th century, brought about a culinary revolution. She brought with her cooks from Tuscany and introduced different foods to France. Sugar, chocolate, butter all became part of the cuisine.
French cuisine gained popularity in the 17th century. At this time, France dominated Europe, militarily, economically, culturally, and politically. Louis XIV and Le Chateau de Versailles symbolized French glory. French chefs, who worked in French courts and palaces, presented impressive and extravagant dishes. The art of French cuisine spread rapidly throughout Europe.
The nobility and aristocracy hired French chefs in England, Spain, Austria, and Russia. In the 18th century, French cookbooks emerged and translated into European languages.
By the 19th century, the"bouchon" came into existence at about the time of the collapse of the silk industry in Lyon. Women lost their jobs working for rich families and started working for themselves. The typical woman, at that time, came from the countryside and had young children. They moved to the city to find jobs in the bouchons. They were called Les Meres or the mothers.
Some of these women were so good that they established their own restaurants. La Mere Braziere was the first woman to be given three Michelin stars for each of her two restaurants. Unheard of at the time!
You will see many "mom and pop" restaurants all around Lyon. Many are family operations going back decades. Today, there are also many runs by young chefs who want to make a name for themselves. You will not find many chain restaurants or franchise operations. The French have a particular disdain for those food operations.
By the way, "bouchon" means cork or plug (i.e., a way to earn a little money).

The view is fantastic - the church grounds are approximately 928 feet above sea level, while the majority of Lyon is at 550 feet above sea level. Gives you some idea of the height of the ridge eh?
Images one & two were taken in front of the basilica, as we had to queue up there waiting to be allowed inside. Image three is the basilica as it can be seen from the city below (image three is the propery of Loïc Ventre via Flickr).
Because the basilica sits high up on a ridge, it is one of the most visible landmarks
in the city, and one of the symbols of the city of Lyon. It gives Lyon its status as a “Marian city”. About
two million tourists are welcomed each year in the basilica. The basilica complex includes not only the building,
the Saint-Thomas chapel and the statue, but also the panoramic esplanade, the Rosary garden and the Archbishopric of Lyon.
NOTE: Click here to see a Google Images set of pictures.
The Lyon Fresco (aka "La Fresque des Lyonnais")
At first glance you see what appears to be a very busy building, with people walking by or standing on balconies… but take a closer look and you’ll see that this is actually one giant fresco! Painted with the trompe-l’oeil – or “trick of the eye” – technique, this giant fresco celebrates over thirty local figures who have made their mark over 2,000 years of Lyonnais history, from the Roman emperor Claudius to the renowned chef Paul Bocuse.
Click here to view a set of Google Images of this building located at 2 Rue de la Martinière very near the Saône River, 1/2 block off the Quai Saint-Vincent.
Click here to go to the "This is Lyon" website and a more complete description of the Lyon Fresco.
Opéra Nouvel (Nouvel Opera House)
The Opéra Nouvel (Nouvel Opera House) in Lyon, France is the home of the Opéra National de Lyon. The original opera house was re-designed by the distinguished French architect, Jean Nouvel between 1985 and 1993 in association with the agency of scenography dUCKS scéno and the acoustician Peutz. Serge Dorny was appointed general director in 2003.

Cities in FRANCE
Popular destinations FRANCE
France is the world's leading holiday destination in terms of visitor numbers, followed by the United States and Spain.
Tourist activities are very unevenly distributed across French territory. Half of the jobs are concentrated in three regions: Ile-de-France, Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. The most visited attractions are Disneyland Paris (12 million visitors), the Eiffel Tower (6 million), the Louvre (6 million) and the Center Pompidou (5 million).
photo: Andrei Dan Suciu, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported no changes made
Government and business are trying to redistribute the tourist flow over regions in a more balanced way and spread it over the whole year. For example, "green" tourism (including camping on a farm) and new forms of tourism such as city tourism and thematic travel will be more developed.
Throughout France you can admire the remains of the country's rich history, which dates back to prehistoric times. About 15,000 BC. the earliest inhabitants of the country lived in the south of France. They lived in caves and painted wall paintings at Lascaux that became world famous. In Brittany, around 1500 BC. erected monuments consisting of gigantic stones called dolmens or menhirs.
photo: Arnradigue, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, no changes made
In 51 BC. Under the leadership of Julius Caesar, the Romans conquered what is now France, then called Gaul and for centuries it was a Roman province. Especially in the southeast of France there are still amphitheaters in cities such as Arles, Orange and Nîmes.
Romanesque architecture emerged in the 12th century. Monasteries and churches were built on the model of Roman basilicas. From this developed Gothic architecture, which would spread all over Europe from France. There are about 60 Gothic cathedrals in France, richly decorated with sculptures and stained glass windows. The most famous cathedrals are in Amiens, Reims, Paris (Notre Dame), Chartres and Beauvais.
Around 1500 French art came under the influence of the Italian Renaissance. Classical antiquity became a source of inspiration. Many castles were built along the Loire during this period.

The king’s room was done in a neo-renaissance style.
In 1944 it housed the command post of the French Forces of the Rhone in WWII. As an elevated place of the Resistance, nearly fifty paratroopers settled there in cooperation with the French, English and American Jedburgh. This is where the liberation of Lyon was organized.
It is of course classified as a Historic Monument. And you can rent it out for your wedding or another event.
Courzieu – Église Saint Didier
Courzieu is crossed by the ancient Gallo-Roman way of Aquitaine which was opened in 20BC by Emporer Agrippa, which led from Lugdunum (Lyon) to Bordeaux. It is on this road, according to tradition, that the body of Saint Bonnet, the Bishop of Clermont, was transported in the 8th century from Lyon where he had died.
The church of Saint Didier was built in 1896 on the site of the old castle of Courzieu. The bell tower was built in 1902-1903. It has a carillon of eight bells of which the oldest dates from 1726. It is signed Cochois and Cordelet and is itself declared a Historic Monument. The windows were made by Paulin Campagna.
One of the biggest tourist attractions in the area is the Parc du Courzieu, which is a wildlife park dedicated to European mammals. It was started with the basic idea of making a unique tourist attraction which was close to nature with the educational intent of informing to better protect. The park was started in 1980. It has been expanded up ever since, most recently in 2018 with the creation of the path of marmots.
Château de Lafay in Larajasse
Built in the fourteenth century by the Arod family. Characteristic of fortified castles of the feudal period, the facade is flanked by 2 round towers. It has been reworked several times of the centuries. In the 19th century, a facade and a tower were added, connecting the old building to the chapel
This castle was for a long time the seat of an important jurisdiction for the whole of the commune of Larajasse.

For example, in 1567, when Maixent Poitevin was mayor, king Henry III came for a visit, and, although some townspeople grumbled about the licentious behaviour of his entourage, Henry smoothed things over with a warm speech acknowledging their allegiance and thanking them for it.2
In this era, the mayor of Poitiers was preceded by sergeants wherever he went, consulted deliberative bodies, carried out their decisions, "heard civil and criminal suits in first instance", tried to ensure that the food supply would be adequate, visited markets.2
In the 16th century, Poitiers impressed visitors because of its large size, and important features, including "royal courts, university, prolific printing shops, wealthy religious institutions, cathedral, numerous parishes, markets, impressive domestic architecture, extensive fortifications, and castle."3
The town saw less activity during the Renaissance. Few changes were made in the urban landscape, except for laying way for the rue de la Tranchée. Bridges were built where the inhabitants had used gués. A few hôtels particuliers were built at that time, such as the hôtels Jean Baucé, Fumé and Berthelot. Poets Joachim du Bellay and Pierre Ronsard met at the University of Poitiers, before leaving for Paris.
During the 17th century, many people emigrated from Poitiers and the Poitou to the French settlements in the new world and thus many Acadians or Cajuns living in North America today can trace ancestry back to this region.
During the 18th century, the town's activity mainly depended on its administrative functions as a regional centre: Poitiers served as the seat for the regional administration of royal justice, the évêché, the monasteries and the intendance of the Généralité du Poitou.
The Vicomte de Blossac, intendant of Poitou from 1750 to 1784, had a French garden landscaped in Poitiers. He also had Aliénor d'Aquitaine's ancient wall razed and modern boulevards were built in its place.
During the 19th century, many army bases were built in Poitiers because of its central and strategic location. Poitiers became a garrison town, despite its distance from France's borders.

Lyon is one of the most popular clubs in France with a vast fan base on par with Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille.
The club achieved moderate success during the 1960s and 1970s led by the likes of Bernard Lacombe and Jean Djorkaeff, while the golden era of the French side came at the start of the new millennium when Lyon began to achieve greater success both in France and on the international level.
It was not until 2002 that Lyon won their first ever Ligue 1 title which sparked an ongoing national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles. During that time Lyon were regular participants of the UEFA Champions League. The French club reached quarter-finals on two occasions, while they even played in the semi-finals in the 2009-10 season.

Housed in the "Palais Saint Pierre", a former 17th-century convent, it displays a major collection of paintings by artists (including Tintoretto; Paolo Veronese; Nicolas Poussin; Rubens; Rembrandt; Zurbaran; Canaletto; Delacroix; Monet; Gauguin; Van Gogh; Cézanne; Matisse; Picasso; Francis Bacon...); collections of sculptures, drawings and printings, decorative arts, Roman and Greek antiquities; the second largest collection of Egyptian antiquities in France after that of the Louvre; and a medal cabinet of 50.000 medals and coins.
- The Gallo-Roman Museum displaying many valuable objects and artworks found on the site of Roman Lyon (Lugdunum) such as Circus Games Mosaic, Coligny calendar and the Taurobolic Altar;
- Musée des Confluences, new museum of sciences and anthropology which opened its doors on 20 December 2014.
- Musée des Tissus et des Arts décoratifs, decorative arts and textile museum. It holds one of the world's largest textile collections with 2,500,000 works;
- Musée des Automates, museum of automated puppets in Vieux Lyon, open since 1991.
Parks and gardens
- Parc de la Tête d'or, (literally, Golden Head Park), in central Lyon is the largest urban park in France at 117 hectares. Located in the 6th arrondissement, it features a large lake on which boating takes place during the summer months.
- Jardin botanique de Lyon (8 hectares), included in the Parc de la Tête d'Or, is a municipal botanical garden and is open weekdays without charge. The garden was established in 1857 as a successor to earlier botanical gardens dating to 1796, and now describes itself as France's largest municipal botanical garden.
- Parc des hauteurs, in Fourvières;
More information on Lyon and France

The new building crumbled rapidly and was rebuilt at great cost. In the end, a quarter of the project had been completed when the convent was declared national property in 1789. In 1791, after having been chased out by the Revolution and the arrival of the guillotine in Lyon, the nuns abandoned the site.
Yesterday… in the 19th C… Military Subsistances
In 1807, the army took over the site and used it for storage and as a settlement for the many soldiers from surrounding forts. From 1840 to 1991, the site served above all for making flour and bread, as well as for packaging coffee, tobacco and wine. In 1840, the army built the great square called Manutention Ste-Marie des Chaînes.
As of 1870, the 1300 m2 of central courtyard were protected by a metal skylight inspired by the Eiffel School. The first wheat mill was built in 1853 on the current site of the furnace. A second mill was built in 1870 (now the administrative building), and a final mill in 1890 (behind the reception). A bakery with six large coal ovens was built in one of the alleys of the Manutention, thus completing the chain of production. Thereafter, the site produced bread and packaged food rations semi-industrially, supplying the neighbouring fortifications in peacetime and the front during the great wars.
The site was re-baptized “Les Subsistances militaries” in 1941, and the army occupied it until 1991. The state donated the buildings to the city of Lyon in 1995.
Today… A pole for artistic creation
– 1998 : the Ville de Lyon dedicates the site to artistic and cultural activities.
– 1998 : Paul Grémeret first imagines the project, dying on the job in 2000.
– Septembre 2000 : Klaus Hersche succeeds Paul Gremeret.
– January 2001 : inauguration of the site renovated by architect Denis Eyraud.
– November 2003 : Guy Walter and Cathy Bouvard take over the direction of Les Subsistances.
– September 2005 : 2nd phase of renovation initiated by Gérard Collomb, Senator Mayor of Lyon. Works directed by architects Michel Lassagne and William Vassal.

After the Germans withdrew, Parisian workers rebelled against the French government and established the Commune of Paris, which was bloodily suppressed.
Under the Third Republic
With the establishment of the Third French Republic and relative stability, Paris became the great industrial and transportation center as it is today. Two epochal events in modern cultural history that took place in Paris were the first exhibition of impressionist painting (1874) and the premiere of Stravinsky's Sacre du Printemps (1913). In World War I the Germans failed to reach Paris. After 1919 the outermost city fortifications were replaced by housing developments, including the Cite Universitaire, which houses thousands of students. During the 1920s, Paris was home to many disillusioned artists and writers from the United States and elsewhere. German troops occupied Paris during World War II from June 14, 1940, to Aug. 25, 1944. The city was not seriously damaged by the war.
Paris was the headquarters of NATO from 1950 to 1967; it is the headquarters of UNESCO. A program of cleaning the city's major buildings and monuments was completed in the 1960s. The city was the scene in May, 1968, of serious disorders, beginning with a student strike, that nearly toppled the Fifth Republic. In 1971, Les Halles, Paris's famous central market, called by Zola the "belly" of Paris, was dismantled. Construction began immediately on Chatelet Les-Halles, Paris's new metro hub, which was completed in 1977. The Forum des Halles, a partially underground, multistory commercial and shopping center, opened in 1979. Other developments include the Georges Pompidou National Center for Art and Culture, built in 1977, which includes the National Museum of Modern Art. The Louvre underwent extensive renovation, and EuroDisney, a multibillion dollar theme and amusement park, opened in the Parisian suburbs in 1992. A number of major projects in the city were initiated by President Francois Mitterrand (1981-95); they include the new Bibliotheque Nationale, the glass pyramid at the Louvre, Grande Arche de la Defense, Arab Institute, Bastille Opera, and Cite de la Musique.

It is a natural harbor formed into a curve of about 58 km of coastline, mostly facing west with limestone cliffs and deep fjords called calanques flanking the harbor area.
Marseille is, in population, the third largest city of France, with about 1 700 000 people in its metropolitan area (Paris and Lyon are 1st and 2nd). In surface area, it is the largest metropole in France.
Known as a port city and as a place of immigration and mixed populations, Marseille was, for centuries and centuries, the largest Mediterranean port and the most important center of trade, beating out the Genoans and the Venetians for its size and economic importance as a port.
Marseille has the honor of being the OLDEST CITY in France, its founding dates back to the Greeks who went there from the Greek city of Phocée in Asia Minor (now Turkey) to create a new commercial trading post on the western side of the Mediterranean.
The city of Massilia was built in just about 600 bc, well before the Romans settled the region. It is documented by Roman travelers and Greek merchants that it was, that long ago, the most important trading settlement of the Mediterranean sea.
Even back in the pre Christian era, Massilia was known as a city of mixity, with all the ethnic groups and religions of the Mediterranean basin living and trading there.
Note: If you want to see what is left of the ancient Greek city of Massalia, go to the shopping mall called the Centre-Bourse. Downstairs is the entrance to the archeology park that has the vestiges of Greek Marseille, uncovered in the 1970’s and now preserved in a lovely small park area.
The Romans, who had protected Marseille from invaders in exchange for a very lucrative commercial arrangement, decided, by the time of Julius Caesar and the Empire, to annex the city because it refused to take sides in the wars between the pretenders to the Empire’s throne. So, in about 50 bc, Marseille becomes part of Roman Gaule and is subjected to its laws. The only concession made, one that lasts for centuries and centuries, is that Marseille can create its own tax structure and rule itself more or less independently (for a price!!)

The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
During the late 17th and the 18th cent. Paris acquired further glory as the scene of many of France's greatest cultural achievements: the plays of Moliere, Racine, and Corneille; the music of Lully, Rameau, and Gluck; the paintings of Watteau, Fragonard, and Boucher; and the salons where many of the philosophes of the Enlightenment gathered. At the same time, growing industries had resulted in the creation of new classes — the bourgeoisie and proletariat — concentrated in such suburbs (faubourgs) as Saint-Antoine and Saint-Denis; in the opening events of the French Revolution, city mobs stormed the Bastille (July, 1789) and hauled the royal family from Versailles to Paris (Oct., 1789). Throughout the turbulent period of the Revolution the city played a central role.
Napoleon to the Commune
Napoleon (emperor, 1804-15) began a large construction program (including the building of the Arc de Triomphe, the Vendome Column, and the arcaded Rue de Rivoli) and enriched the city's museums with artworks removed from conquered cities. In the course of his downfall Paris was occupied twice by enemy armies (1814, 1815). In the first half of the 19th cent. Paris grew rapidly. In 1801 it had 547,000 people; in 1817 - 714,000; in 1841 - 935,000; and in 1861 - 1,696,000. The revolutions of July, 1830, and Feb., 1848, both essentially Parisian events, had repercussions throughout Europe.
Culturally, the city was at various times the home or host of most of the great European figures of the age. Balzac, Hugo, Chopin, Berlioz, Liszt, Wagner, Delacroix, Ingres, and Daumier were a few of the outstanding personalities. The grand outline of modern Paris was the work of Baron Georges Haussmann, who was appointed prefect by Napoleon III. The great avenues, boulevards, and parks are his work. During the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), Paris was besieged for four months by the Germans and then surrendered.

John, a medieval church with architectural elements of the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, also the principal religious structure in the city and the seat of the Archbishop of Lyon;
- Basilica of St-Martin-d'Ainay, one of the rare surviving Romanesque basilica-style churches in Lyon;
- Église Saint-Bonaventure, 14th- and 15th-century Gothic church;
- Vieux Lyon (English: Old Lyon) area, Mediaeval and Renaissance quarter of the town, with shops, dining and cobbled streets;
- The many Renaissance hôtels particuliers of the Old Lyon quarter, such as the Hôtel de Bullioud, were also built by Philibert Delorme.
- City Hall on the Place des Terreaux, built by architects Jules Hardouin-Mansart and Robert de Cotte;
- Musée des beaux-arts de Lyon, fine arts museum housed in a former convent of the 17th century, including the Baroque chapelle Saint-Pierre;
- Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon (17th and 18th century), historical hospital with a baroque chapel;
- Place Bellecour, one of the largest town squares in Europe;
- Chapelle de la Trinité (1622), the first Baroque chapel built in Lyon, and part of the former École de la Trinité, now Collège-lycée Ampère;
- Église Saint-Polycarpe (1665–1670), Classical church;
- Saint-Bruno des Chartreux (17th and 18th century), church, masterpiece of Baroque architecture;
- Opéra Nouvel (1831), renovated in 1993 by Jean Nouvel;
- Théâtre des Célestins (1877), designed by Gaspard André;
- Sainte Marie de La Tourette monastery (1960) designed by Le Corbusier;
- Musée des beaux-arts de Lyon (Fine Arts Museum), main museum of the city and one of the largest art galleries in France.

Many are afraid that this will cause the neighborhood to lose its authenticity.
So get to Le Marais before it's too late. Le Marais is a unique amalgamation of a gay area and a Jewish quarter. In this neighborhood you will find nice, hip shops and delicious (often kosher) restaurants, bakeries and delicatessen shops. You can also eat the tastiest falafel in all of France at L'as du Fallafel in the Rue des Rosiers (the Jewish street of Paris).
photo: Chadi saad, CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International no changes made
Lyon is een stad met met talloze historische gebouwen vanaf de oudheid tot aan de moderne tijd. Romeinse ruïnes zijn zichtbaar op de heuvel in de buurt van de Fourvière Basiliek met het oude theater van Fourvière en het Amfitheater van de Drie Galliërs.
De beroemdste historische monumenten uit de Middeleeuwen en Renaissance zijn onder meer: De kathedraal van St. Jean, een middeleeuwse kerk met architectonische elementen uit de 13e, 14e en 15e eeuw, tevens het belangrijkste religieuze bouwwerk in de stad en de zetel van de aartsbisschop van Lyon. De basiliek van St-Martin-d'Ainay een van de zeldzame overgebleven romaanse kerken in basiliek-stijl. Het hele Vieux Lyon heeft veel gebouwen met Middeleeuwse en Renaissance kenmerken.

Paris’s population was around 200,000 when the Black Death arrived in A.D. 1348, killing as many as 800 people a day.
Paris lost its position as seat of the French realm during occupation of the English-allied during the Hundred Years’ War, but regained its title when Charles VII of France reclaimed the city from English rule in A.D. 1436.
Parisians rose in rebellion and the royal family fled the city (1648). King Louis XIV then moved the royal court permanently to Versailles in 1682. A century later, Paris was the center stage for the French Revolution, with the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 and the overthrow of the monarchy in September 1792.
The greatest development in Paris’s history began with the Industrial Revolution creation of a network of railways that brought an unprecedented flow of migrants to the capital from the 1840s.
The city’s largest transformation came with the 1852 Paris’ narrow, winding medieval streets were leveled to create the network of wide avenues that still make much of modern Paris; the reason for this transformation was twofold, as not only did the creation of wide boulevards beautify and sanitize the capital, it also facilitated the effectiveness of troops and artillery against any further uprisings and barricades that Paris was so famous for.
France’s late 19th-century Universal Expositions made Paris an increasingly important center of technology, trade and tourism.
Its most famous were the 1889 Universal Exposition to which Paris owes its “temporary” display of architectural engineering prowess, the Eiffel Tower, a structure that remained the world’s tallest building until 1930 and became the symbol of the city.
During World War I, Paris was at the forefront of the war effort, after that the city became a gathering place of artists from around the world, from exiled Russian composer Stravinsky and Spanish painters Picasso and Dalí to American writer Hemingway.
On 14 June 1940, five weeks after the start of the Battle of France, Paris fell to German occupation forces, who remained there until the city was liberated in August 1944.
Luckily the German General von Choltitz did not destroy all Parisian monuments before any German retreat, as ordered by Adolf Hitler, who had visited the city in 1940.
In the post-war era, Paris experienced its largest development since the end of the Belle Époque in 1914.

That is how Marseille enters into French history – first as a fief of the Consuls of Rome, then of the Emperor, then of the Counts of Provence and Marseille, descendants of the Franks who came and conquered after the fall of Rome.
All this time, it is still the most important and powerful port on the Mediterranean sea!
Skipping centuries, we come to the Middle Ages, Marseille is the center of trade from East and West. It became a major stop for the Crusaders going or coming back from Jerusalem.
Then, in the 1300’s, Marseille is the seat of one of the most important catastrophes in the history of Europe; it is from ships arriving in its port, in 1347, that the Bubonic Plague enters western Europe!
Coming from Asia Minor, via Venice, the ships carried the plague and from there it spread all over western Europe so that by 5 years later, the Plague was as far as in England, and northern Germany. It is estimated that up to 50% of the population of Western Europe died during that first wave of epidemic.
Marseille was never a slave trade port, unlike other ports in France such as Bordeaux.
In the late Middle Ages, the Renaissance period, the king, Francois I decided to protect this very important port from his enemies and had two forts built, one on the edge of the ancient port that leads to the interior, and the other on the island of If, part of the archipel of Frioul, a group of small outcroppings about a mile or two from the entrance to the port of Marseille. Both of those forts are still standing, one was finished in 1526 amnd the other, near the church of Notre Dame de la Garde, was finished in 1536.
The Chateau Fort of If is not only still standing – it was the location for the story of the Man in the Iron Mask by Alexander Dumas, and the island and the fortress are visitable! This is where the Count of Monte Cristo and the Man with the Iron Mask are set.
Another fortified structure was built under Louis XIV by Vauban, the genius engineer who created almost all the fortifications that still exist in France today.
Because of the colonies, Marseille continued to be a very important port – trading in sugar, coffee, rum and whatever products were produced and shipped back to France.

Later, the Louvre arose in Paris, which has long been the palace of the French kings.
The 17th century was the heyday of French art. The style of that time is called classicism. In Versailles, famous architects, painters and sculptors worked on the palace, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. King Louis XIV had a hospital built in Paris for wounded soldiers, the Hôtel des Invalides, where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried. It is considered the masterpiece of the classicist period.
photo: Daniel Vorndran / DXR, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported no changes made
In the second half of the 18th century, the Panthéon was built in Paris. At first it served as a church, later it became a resting place for famous French such as Victor Hugo, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Emile Zola.
When the World's Fair was held in Paris in 1889, engineer Eiffel designed a 300-meter-high iron tower, which later became known as the Eiffel Tower, especially for the occasion. This building still dominates the image of Paris and attracts millions of visitors every year.
In the 20th century, French architecture has developed into one of the most prominent in the world. For example, the buildings of Le Corbusier can be found in many countries. An example of his style is the pilgrimage church Notre-Dame-du-Haut in Ronchamp from 1955. Many buildings typical of this century have been built in Paris, such as the Center Pompidou, which houses all kinds of cultural institutions. Below is a brief description of some interesting French cities.
foto: Juliette Jourdan, CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International no changes made
Paris is overflowing with sights. There are of course well-known blockbusters such as the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Élysées, Notre Dame and the Louvre. But there are also a number of less known, yet special places to visit. Le Marais is highly recommended. Le Marais has recently become one of the hippest districts in Paris. You could assume that it is actually a shame that it is now referred to in all books as the hippest district in Paris, as recently (especially in the summer months) Le Marais has been overrun by tourists.

This square is located in the Ainay district of Lyon and measures three hundred and twelve meters by two hundred meters which gives it an area of over sixty-two thousand square meters. It is completely free of any trees or shrubbery and is considered to be one of the clearest squares in all of Europe, as well as being the largest pedestrian square. Situated in the middle of the Place Bellecour is an equestrian statue of King Louis XIV. It was designed by Francois-Frederic Lemot, and the statues features the statues of Saone and Rhone at the statues feet. The original statue that stood on its site was erected in 1713, but was torn down to make cannonballs during the French Revolution. The current statue was erected in 1825. Also located on this square are the office of tourism and an art gallery.
Another tourist attraction in the city is the Muse des beaux-arts de Lyon. This is the cities museum dedicated to fine arts. It is situated near Place des Terreaux and is located in a Benedictine convent that was erected in the seventeenth century. This was one of the historical landmarks in the city that went through an extensive restoration during the 1980s and 1990s. Housed in this musuem are various antiquities which come from Egypt, and a large collection of modern art. It also contains a collection of art that ranges from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century. Artist represented by the paintings in the museum include Nicolas Poussin, Philippe de Champaigne, François Boucher, Jean-Baptiste Greuze, El Greco, Antonio de Pereda, Francis Bacon and Nicolas de Stael.
A historically significant site in the city of Lyon is the Hotel-Dieu de Lyon. This building was first constructed in the twelfth century and was used as a gathering place for domestic and foreign members of the clergy. However, when Dr. Maitre Martin Conras entered the city he converted it into a hospital in the fifteen century. During the seventeenth century the hospital went through a series of expansion projects. This continued until the eighteenth century when Soufflot replaced the building and erected the building that we see today. Today, it still serves as an important hospital in Lyon, but also houses an exhibit chronicling the history of medicine from the middle ages to modern times.

King Louis Philippe suppressed the riot with tens of thousands of soldiers, although it continued until 1836.
Today, China produces almost all silk in the world. High-end silk design and fabrication are still in Italy and France. You will find many silk shops in Lyon, some fabricators going back decades. Hermes, the high-end French designer, has a facility in Lyon.
I hope you enjoyed reading about Lyon. It brought back so many fond memories of our stay there. I am just so sorry it took me a long time to write it due to personal issues like moving and some IT crashes!
If you have been to Lyon, please share with me your impressions. Did you love it as much as I did?
I leave you with a photo of the Croix-Rousse hill.

The Capetians firmly established Paris as the French capital. The city grew as the power of the French kings increased. In the 11th cent. the city spread to the right bank. During the next two centuries — the reign of Philip Augustus (1180-1223) is especially notable for the growth of Paris — streets were paved and the city walls enlarged; the first Louvre (a fortress) and several churches, including Notre-Dame, were constructed or begun; and the schools on the left bank were organized into the University of Paris. One of them, the Sorbonne, became a fountainhead of theological learning with Albertus Magnus and St. Thomas Aquinas among its scholars. The university community constituted an autonomous borough; another was formed on the right bank by merchants ruled by their own provost. In 1358, under the leadership of the merchant provost Etienne Marcel, Paris first assumed the role of an independent commune and rebelled against the dauphin (later Charles V). During the period of the Hundred Years War the city suffered civil strife, occupation by the English (1419-36), famine, and the Black Death.
During the Renaissance
The Renaissance reached Paris in the 16th cent. during the reign of Francis I (1515-47). At this time the Louvre was transformed from a fortress to a Renaissance palace. In the Wars of Religion (1562-98), Parisian Catholics, who were in the great majority, took part in the massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day (1572), forced Henry III to leave the city on the Day of Barricades (1588), and accepted Henry IV only after his conversion (1593) to Catholicism. Cardinal Richelieu, Louis XIII's minister, established the French Academy and built the Palais Royal and the Luxembourg Palace. During the Fronde, Paris once again defied the royal authority. Louis XIV, distrustful of the Parisians, transferred (1682) his court to Versailles. Parisian industries profited from the lavishness of Versailles; the specialization in luxury goods dates from that time. J. H. Mansart under Louis XIV and Francois Mansart, J. G. Soufflot, and J. A. Gabriel under Louis XV created some of the most majestic prospects of modern Paris.

Beginning in the 1260s the large metal reliquary shrines take the form of diminutive Rayonnant churches, complete with transepts, rose windows, and gabled facades (see Metalwork).
About 1300 the decorative arts begin to assume a more independent role. In the Rhineland, German expressionism gave rise to works of a marked emotional character, ranging from the statuettes of the school of Bodensee, such as that of the youthful seated Saint John tenderly laying his head on the shoulder of Christ, to the harrowing evocation of the suffering Christ in the plague crosses of the Middle Rhine. Later in the century the German sculptors were responsible for a new type of the mourning Virgin Mary, seated and holding on her lap the dead body of Christ, the so-called Pietà. In the second quarter of the century, Parisian manuscript illumination was given a new direction by Jean Pucelle. In his Belleville Breviary (1325?, Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris), the lettering, the illustrations, and the leafy borders all contribute to the totally integrated effect of the decorated page, thereby establishing an enduring precedent for later illuminators. Of still greater significance for future developments is the new sense of space imparted to the interior scenes in his illustrations through the use of linear perspective. Pucelle had learned this technique from the contemporary painters of the Italian proto-Renaissance (see Illuminated Manuscripts).
V. Late Gothic Period
Paris had been the leading artistic center of northern Europe since the 1230s. After the ravages of the Plague and the outbreak of the Hundred Years' War in the 1350s, however, Paris became only one among many artistic centers.
As a result of this diffusion of artistic currents, a new pictorial synthesis emerged, known as the International Gothic style, in which, as foreshadowed by Pucelle, Gothic elements were combined with the illusionistic art of the Italian painters. Beginning in Paris in the 1370s and continuing until about 1400 at the court of Jean de France, Duc de Berry, the manuscript illuminators of the International Gothic style progressively developed the spatial dimensions of their illustrations, until the picture became a veritable window opening on an actual world. This process led eventually to the realistic painting of Jan van Eyck and the northern Renaissance and away from the conceptual point of view of the Middle Ages.

It was largely because it was already the political capital, with firms thus attracted to it, that Paris became an actively industrial city in the 19th century. Unlike other older French industrial areas, such as Lorraine and Nord-Pas-de-Calais, it was not near mineral resources. But it did have some natural assets of its own, notably the Seine River, which is still used for barge traffic moving principally between the capital and the downstream ports of Rouen and Le Havre. Traditional industries were devoted mainly to handicrafts and luxury goods, but, when the growth of railways and canals in the 19th century made the northern coalfields more accessible, heavier industries began to develop. These soon spread beyond the city into the new industrial suburbs. To the northwest, along the Seine’s loop from Suresnes to Gennevilliers, armaments factories, heavy engineering works, and chemical plants were created, and automobile and aircraft factories eventually were established in the Seine valley toward Rouen.
More recently, manufacturing has developed principally in the capital’s outer ring, particularly in strategic sites such as the area around the Roissy–Charles de Gaulle airport (northeast of Paris) or newer suburban towns. The nature of industry also has changed. Many traditional activities, such as metallurgy, food processing, and printing, progressively disappeared, while electronics, telecommunications, and other high-technology industries gained emphasis. These have become located preferentially in a broad arc to the southwest of Paris, stretching from Versailles southeast to Évry.
For much of the period between 1950 and 1980, the policy of successive French governments was to limit the industrial growth of the Paris region in favour of the provinces. The policy also was used to effect a better distribution of industry within the region, with the aim of favouring the development of new towns. The idea of restraining industry in Paris itself had lost currency by the end of the 20th century, however, as the central and inner areas of the capital already had been largely deindustrialized.

Lyon, France's second largest city and capital of the region we live in (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), is located on the junction of two rivers, the Soâne and the Rhone. It is just over an hour away from Grenoble and during a visit with friends we saw the highlights of the city and then again with the students the following weekend we saw more.
Up on the hill, Basilique de Notre Dame de Fourvière (Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière). The basilica was built in the 19th century and the interior is in the byzantine style.
Close-ups of the floor, ceiling, pillar
Our visit actually began with a walk through the market, followed by a visit to another well-known edifice, the Cathédrale Saint-Jean, built in 1180.
A more sobre cathedral, but very bright inside. This is also where Henry the 4th and Marie de Medecis were married.
You are looking at a Roman theatre in Lugdunum, the most important center of Roman Gaul, founded in 43 BC. This Roman city in Lyon covered more than 300 hectares and for four centuries was the hub of city life. At the time, the theatre itself could hold almost 11,000 people. Today, it is used for outdoor events and can hold 4,500 spectators. Acoustically, it was built so that a person seated in the top row could hear a person on the stage below. I tested this with Otto and indeed I could understand what he was saying.
In the Saint-Jean district of Lyon, where we visited the Saint-Jean Cathedral, you will find "traboules". These are a series of passageways originally used by silk manufacturers to transport their products. They date back as far as the 4th century and are now private property for apartment dwellers. Fortunately these doors are open to visitors in the afternoon.
Some of the interior courtyards are quite beautiful.
At some point we did have lunch, at a "bouchon", a traditional restaurant that has its origins in inns/restaurants for silk workers passing through Lyon in the 17th and 18th centuries. The food is very rich and hearty! A typical first course could be a soup, or here, a salad with a local cheese, St.

A Literary Tour de France
|Population:||20,000 in 1780.|
|Book Trade:||ten booksellers and four printers. Active book trade and printing industry. Guild, chambre syndicale, and inspector of the book trade.|
|Institutions:||capital of Burgundy, with royal Intendance, military government, parlement high court of justice, Cour des aides and Chambre des comptes financial courts, tax généralité, trade court, and bishopric.|
university (of Law only), college of medicine, college, drawing school, learned academy, theater, concerts, newspaper, and reading cabinet.
high literacy (for entire département): male 54%, female 26%.
|Communications:||destination and overnight stop on diligence post road from Paris to Geneva. On alternate road from Paris to Lyon|
|Economy:||commercial city. Wine, grain, wool, iron, silk and woolens, calicoes, mustard.|

In 1171 Louis VII gave the marchandise a charter confirming its “ancient right” to a monopoly of river trade.
During the reign of Philip II (1179–1223), Paris was extensively improved. Streets were paved, the city wall was enlarged, and a number of new towns were enfranchised. In 1190, when Philip II went on a crusade for a year, he entrusted the city’s administration not to the provost but to the guild. In 1220 the crown ceded one of its own precious rights to the townsmen—the right to collect duty on incoming goods. The merchants were also made responsible for maintaining fair weights and measures. The King’s formal recognition of the University of Paris in 1200 was also a recognition of the natural division of Paris into three parts. On the Right Bank were the mercantile quarters, on the island was the cité, and the Left Bank contained the university and academic quarters. Numerous colleges were also founded, including the Sorbonne (about 1257).
In the 14th century the development of Paris was hindered not only by the Black Death (1348–49) but also by the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453) and by internal disturbances resulting from it. The provost of the merchants in 1356 was Étienne Marcel, who wanted a Paris as rich and free as the independent cities of the Low Countries. He gave the House of Pillars to the municipal government, and he slew the Dauphin’s counselors in the palace throne room and took over the city. Marcel showed great executive skill and equally great political stupidity and allied himself with the revolting peasants (the Jacquerie), with the invading English, and with Charles the Bad, the ambitious king of Navarre. While going to open the city gates to the Navarrese in 1358, Marcel was slain by the citizens.
In 1382 a tax riot grew into a revolt called the “Maillotin uprising.” The rioters, armed with mauls (maillets), were ruthlessly put down, and the municipal function was suspended for the next 79 years. It was not until 1533, when Francis I ordered the teetering House of Pillars replaced by a new building, that a monarch manifested an encouraging interest in municipal government.

The prosperity of these wine-growing and wine-trading houses took a great leap at the time of the English domination. After a critical period during the 15th–17th century, prosperity returned in the 18th century and has continued ever since, despite problems of weather and grape parasites, the most critical of which was the phylloxera infestation of 1869. The modern extent of the vineyards is about half its former maximum area. The government of France and the local growers regard control of quality and quantity of these wines as essential to the preservation of a major export market. Bordeaux has never been a major centre of industry in France; however, from the 1960s, industrial activities have expanded. In addition to the more traditional industries such as food processing, light engineering, and the manufacture of textiles, clothing, and chemicals, the production of aerospace equipment, car components, and electronics has also become important. However, employment in the city is dominated by the service sector, reflective of Bordeaux’s role as a commercial, business, and administrative centre. The city also has a number of universities and graduate schools and is a regional centre for culture and the arts.
The port area has been important since the 18th century, but commercial activity is now concentrated in five specialized outports. With the closure of the oil refineries located along the Gironde, port traffic has declined, although refined petroleum products are still imported. Bordeaux is well integrated into the national motorway network, is linked to Paris by high-speed trains (TGV), and possesses a large regional airport. Pop. (1999) 215,363; (2005 est.) 230,600.

Often it can be this stage that the race is decided; but probably not so this year 2013. http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2013/us/stage-20.html
Annecy is located halfway between Genève and Chambéry, so it strongly was influenced by these two political centers for 1000 years. Starting as the capital of the county of Geneva, after the end of the counts of Geneva, it became integrated into the House of Savoy's possessions in 1401. In 1444, it was set up by the Princes of Savoy as the capital of a region covering the possessions of the Genevois, Faucigny and Beaufortain. With the advance of Calvinism in 1535, it became a center for the Counter-Reformation and the Bishop's See of Geneva was transferred here. During the French Revolution, the Savoy region was conquered by France and Annecy became attached to the département of Mont Blanc, of which capital was Chambéry. After the Bourbon Restoration in 1815, it was returned to the Kingdom of Sardinia (heir of the Duchy of Savoy). When Savoy was sold to France in 1860, it became the capital of the new département of Haute-Savoie. The Cathedral of Saint-Pierre, built in the 16th century, was the cathedral of François de Sales and is home to a number of artworks and baroque pieces from the 19th century.
Aix-les-Bains: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aix-les-Bains -- Lac du Bourget Aix was a bath during the Roman Empire, even before it was renamed Aquae Gratianae to commemorate the Emperor Gratian, who was assassinated not far away (in Lyon 383AD). Numerous Roman remains survive. Its thermal sulfur springs, have a temperature range from 109° to 113°F (43-45 °C) and are still much frequented. The town stretches along the eastern end of the beautiful Lac du Bourget, the largest natural lake in France.
Aix-les-Bains' architecture (e.g. the Art-Deco Thermes Nationaux) derives from its belle-époque, when high society from across Europe dropped in (by train) to relax and take the waters.

Locally, the hill is called the "hill that prays" because of the Basilica of Notre Dame that sits on top of the hill. (The metallic tower that looks like the Eiffel Tower is a 19th century tower that is the highest point in Lyon. It is now a TV tower.)
A Basilica is no ordinary church. In the world of Catholics, a Basilica is an important church with certain privileges given to it by the Pope. The Basilica is Lyon is an international center of a pilgrimage site for worship of the Virgin Mary. It is not unusual to see busloads of Catholica visitors to the Basilica.
The Catholic Church is still a strong institution in Lyon. It is surprising given the decline of religion overall, but not surprising given Lyon's background as the earliest Christian community in France. Lyon is a city of saints and martyrs, many of whom go back the Middle Ages or early days of Christianity.
Before becoming part of the Kingdom of France, it was part of the Holy Roman Empire in 1032. During the Middle Ages, Lyon was the most visited city in France by the popes after Avignon (seat of the papacy for 70 years dated from 1305-76).
The bishop of Lyon is a powerful man in the French Catholic Church. He has the exclusive title, Primat des Gauls, or First among Gauls, as the head of the first diocese of France. The title has been in existence since 1079.
During the week of December 8, the Fete des Lumieres celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is of particular importance in Lyon because it marks two miracles that saved the city from disastrous events in the past. The first was the bubonic plague in 1643 and the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. Since 1643, a candle lighting event occurs each year to celebrate the miracle. After the city's salvation from the Prussian War, the Basilica was constructed (1872-84) with private funds.
Today's candlelight event is the Fete des Lumieres. Despite its religious origins, the Fete has become an international event. For three nights during the week of December 8 is a lighting extravaganza in 40 venues throughout the city. Historical buildings and landscapes are illuminated in a fantastic show of lights.

Corneille de Lyon and his milieu
Corneille de Lyon was probably born in The Hague around 1500-1510. He travelled to France in his twenties or thirties, settling in the city of Lyon in 1533, which resulted in his cognomen. Lyon, at the time, had a quartier teeming with Flemish painters such as Guillaume le Roy, Lievin van der Meer and Mathieu d’Anvers . By at least 1544 he had been made painter to the Dauphin, since he made a formal request as such to be exempted from paying tax on his wine . In 1547 he became a naturalized French citizen by royal decree, and he died in Lyon in 1575 . His entire oeuvre consists of portraits, most of them on a small scale and with a single colour background. Stylistic comparison makes it feasible he was influenced by or had even trained with Joos van Cleve in the Flemish town of Bruges .
Corneille de Lyon(c.1500/10–d.1575), Catherine de’ Medici, c.1536, o/oak panel, 6.5 x 6 ins (16.5 x 15.2 cm.), Polesden Lacey, National Trust
The queen of France, Catherine de’ Medici (wife of Henri II: r.1547-59), owned a substantial collection of art, tapestries, furniture and pottery (including 300 portraits), and commissioned a number of works by Corneille, as well as sitting for him herself. After his death his reputation lingered for some time, diminishing over the following century, save with the rare collector who had a taste for portraits. It was not until the middle of the 19th century that his work was once more appreciated for its fine quality. The slackening in the demand for Corneille’s work may have had a profound impact on the frames corresponding with the portraits. In general, it can be stated that the chances of a painting having a surviving original frame are inversely proportional to the artist’s popularity. With this in mind, it might be possible that Corneille’s portraits survived the centuries without too many re-framings.

Paris, Alain Choisnet—The Image Bank/Getty Imagescity and capital of France, located in the north-central part of the country. People were living on the site of the present-day city, located along the Seine River some 233 miles (375 km) upstream from the river’s mouth on the English Channel (La Manche), by about 7600 bce. The modern city has spread from the island (the Île de la Cité) and far beyond both banks of the Seine.
Paris occupies a central position in the rich agricultural region known as the Paris Basin, and it constitutes one of eight départements of the Île-de-France administrative region. It is by far the country’s most important centre of commerce and culture. Area city, 41 square miles (105 square km); metropolitan area, 890 square miles (2,300 square km). Pop. (1999) city, 2,125,246; (2005 est.) city, 2,153,600; urban agglomeration, 9,854,000.
For centuries Paris has been one of the world’s most important and attractive cities. It is appreciated for the opportunities it offers for business and commerce, for study, for culture, and for entertainment; its gastronomy, haute couture, painting, literature, and intellectual community especially enjoy an enviable reputation. Its sobriquet “the City of Light” (“la Ville Lumière”), earned during the Enlightenment, remains appropriate, for Paris has retained its importance as a centre for education and intellectual pursuits.
Paris’s site at a crossroads of both water and land routes significant not only to France but also to Europe has had a continuing influence on its growth. Under Roman administration, in the 1st century bc, the original site on the Île de la Cité was designated the capital of the Parisii tribe and territory. The Frankish king Clovis I had taken Paris from the Gauls by 494 ce and later made his capital there. Under Hugh Capet (ruled 987–996) and the Capetian dynasty the preeminence of Paris was firmly established, and Paris became the political and cultural hub as modern France took shape. France has long been a highly centralized country, and Paris has come to be identified with a powerful central state, drawing to itself much of the talent and vitality of the provinces.

Onwy Laos was seen initiawwy as an economicawwy unviabwe cowony, awdough timber was harvested at a smaww scawe from dere.
At de turn of de 20f century, de growing automobiwe industry in France resuwted in de growf of de rubber industry in French Indochina, and pwantations were buiwt droughout de cowony, especiawwy in Annam and Cochinchina. France soon became a weading producer of rubber drough its Indochina cowony and Indochinese rubber became prized in de industriawised worwd. The success of rubber pwantations in French Indochina resuwted in an increase in investment in de cowony by various firms such as Michewin. Wif de growing number of investments in de cowony's mines and rubber, tea and coffee pwantations, French Indochina began to industriawise as factories opened in de cowony. These new factories produced textiwes, cigarettes, beer and cement which were den exported droughout de French Empire.
When French Indochina was viewed as an economicawwy important cowony for France, de French government set a goaw to improve de transport and communications networks in de cowony. Saigon became a principaw port in Soudeast Asia and rivawwed de British port of Singapore as de region's busiest commerciaw centre. By 1937 Saigon was de sixf busiest port in de entire French Empire.
In 1936, de Trans-Indochinois raiwway winking Hanoi and Saigon opened. Furder improvements in de cowony's transport infrastructures wed to easier travew between France and Indochina. By 1939, it took no more dan a monf by ship to travew from Marseiwwe to Saigon and around five days by aeropwane from Paris to Saigon, uh-hah-hah-hah. Underwater tewegraph cabwes were instawwed in 1921.
French settwers furder added deir infwuence on de cowony by constructing buiwdings in de form of Beaux-Arts and added French-infwuenced wandmarks such as de Hanoi Opera House (modewed on de Pawais Garnier), de Hanoi St.

The dynastic and political vendetta between the Burgundian and the Armagnac faction (1407–35) had continual repercussions in Paris, where the butchers and skinners, led by Simon Caboche, momentarily seized power (1413). The resumption of the Hundred Years’ War by the English in 1415 made matters worse. After a revolt of the Parisians (1418), the Burgundians occupied Paris; the Anglo-Burgundian Alliance (1419) was followed by the installation of John Plantagenet, duke of Bedford, as regent of France for the English king Henry VI (1422). Whereas Charles VI had lived in his father’s Hôtel Saint-Paul, Bedford lived in the Hôtel des Tournelles, on the southeastern edge of the Marais, which was to be the Paris residence of later kings until 1559. During the reign of Charles VI, construction began on the Notre-Dame Bridge (1413).
In 1429 Joan of Arc failed to capture Paris. Only in 1436 did it fall to the legitimists, who welcomed Charles VII in person in 1437. Successive disturbances had reduced the population, but the Anglo-French truce of 1444 allowed Charles to begin restoring prosperity.
In 1469, during Louis XI’s reign (1461–83), the Sorbonne installed the first printing press in Paris. Otherwise this was a period of intellectual stagnation. Churches were rehabilitated and new houses were built, however; from 1480 splendid private mansions began to appear, such as the Hôtel de Sens and the Hôtel de Cluny.
The influence of the Italian Renaissance on town architecture appeared in the new building for the accounting office and in the reconstruction of the Notre-Dame Bridge (1500–10) in Louis XII’s reign. Under Francis I (1515–47) this influence grew stronger, finding notable expression in the new Hôtel de Ville. Furthermore, whereas from Charles VII’s time the kings of France had preferred to reside in Touraine, Francis returned the chief seat of royalty to Paris. With this in mind he had extensive alterations made to the Louvre from 1528 onward. The new splendour of the monarchy, which was well on its way toward absolute rule, was reflected in the way Paris developed as the capital of an increasingly centralized state.

Young Paris auction house expands to Lyon
After opening branches in Deauville and Toulouse, Artcurial adds another region to its roster
By Claudia Barbieri. Web only
Published online: 27 September 2010
PARIS. After creating branches in Deauville and Toulouse, the Paris auction house Artcurial is about to open another, this time in Lyon, France's second largest city.
On 29 September Artcurial Lyon will be inaugurated with an exhibition of 30 of the best lots to be sold in the Paris rooms in the upcoming fall/winter season. Among the selected lots are several paintings by Maurice Utrillo, from the collection of the celebrated collector and galerist Paul Pétridès.
One of the most famous of the Monmartre painters—and son of another, the model and artist Suzanne Valadon—Utrillo, alcoholic and mentally unstable, lived in 1924 with his mother and stepfather, the artist André Utter, in the Chateau Saint-Bernard, on the river Saône near Lyon, while recovering from a bout in a psychiatric hospital. Some of the paintings included in the show date from this period.
The auction house will be headed by the auctioneer Michel Rambert, already well established in Lyon, and is located at 2, rue St-Firmin in the center of the city, close to the Sans-Souci metro stop and Lyon Part-Dieu train station.
The auction schedule will start with a sale of "bandes dessinés" comic strip art on October 16, followed by Modern paintings on 20 November, furniture and art objects on 28 November, and gold/jewellery on 30 November.
Founded in 2001, Artcurial has grown steadily over the past decade. Its sales in the first half of this year totalled €52.3 million.
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The Saint-Paul area is more Renaissance in character, going back to the 15th and 16th centuries. There is a Church of St. Paul and a small train station in this area. The original church started in 549 but was built, decommissioned, then rebuilt over the centuries. It became a parish church in the 19th century.
In this neighborhood, Italian bankers and merchants settled and built lavish mansions and stores. Italian influences are evident in this neighborhood with rose-colored architecture, and arches and windows found in Italy.
The area of Saint-George started early in the 16th century as a place where silk weavers resided. With the growth of the industry, they moved to the Croix-Rousse district in the 19th century. The Church of Saint-George, located on the bank of the Saone, was rebuilt in the 1899s. It remains part of the iconic view of Lyon and the Fourviere. We lived steps from this walk-bridge, and it was a beautiful site each time you see it or hear the church bells ring.
What is unique in the Vieux are the "traboules." The word "traboule" comes from the Latin word "trans-ambulare," which means passing through.
Roman towns in the Middle Ages built long parallel roads (no crossroads) between the hill and the river. Passages through houses were used as short-cuts to get to the river. These passages became a usual way to get around town.
Some were long "traboules" that connected all the streets. Some were elaborate with beautiful courtyards and wells, and others were simple.
There are over 400 traboules between the Vieux and Croix-Rousse neighborhoods, but less than 50 are open for public viewing. Longue Traboule is the longest and is always open to the public (from Rue Saint-Jean to Rue du Boeuf)
Although the Fourviere is not technically part of the Vieux, the hill that rises above the banks of the Saone is part of the iconic image of Lyon.
The word "fourviere" is Latin for forum vetus or old forum. Its Roman past will be seen in a well preserved Roman theater near the top of the hill where the site of the original Lyon was.

Visit Arles, the roman city
Arles is a historic town located in the Provence region of southern France. Its history dates back to ancient times, with evidence of human settlement in the area as far back as the Bronze Age. The city's strategic location along the Rhône River made it an important trading and cultural center throughout its history. One of the most significant periods in Arles' history was during the Roman era. It became a Roman colony in 46 BC and quickly developed into an important regional capital. The city was known as "Arelate" during this time and served as a major hub for trade, as well as an administrative center for the surrounding region. Arles was renowned for its impressive Roman architecture, including the Arena of Arles (Amphitheatre), which is still standing today and is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. The Roman theatre, cryptoporticus, and other structures also highlight Arles' importance during this period. In the early Middle Ages, Arles continued to thrive as a cultural and trading center. It became a prominent religious center as well, with the construction of the Church of St. Trophime, a stunning example of Romanesque architecture. The city's role as an important center declined somewhat in the later Middle Ages, but it remained a significant regional town.
Arles in the 19th century
During the 19th century, Arles gained attention from artists, most notably Vincent van Gogh, who lived and painted in the area. His famous work "Starry Night Over the Rhône" was inspired by the beauty of the city and its surroundings. The city's artistic heritage has continued to flourish, and Arles is known for hosting the Rencontres d'Arles, an annual photography festival. Arles also played a role in the development of photography itself. In 1839, Louis Daguerre unveiled his daguerreotype process in the city, marking a pivotal moment in the history of photography. Today, Arles is a UNESCO World Heritage site, celebrated for its rich history, Roman architecture, and vibrant cultural scene. The city's legacy as an important center of art, trade, and culture continues to attract visitors from around the world.
Julius Caesar in Arelate
Photo of the presumed bust of Julius Caesar at the MDAA in Arles.

LIMOGES, capital of the Haute-Vienne department, central France. A Jewish source, Sefer Yeshu'at Elohim (in A.M. Habermann, Gezerot Ashkenaz ve-Zarefat (1945), 11–15) contains an account of a semi-legendary anti-Jewish persecution in Limoges in 992 resulting from the activities of an apostate from Blois. The Christian writer Adhémar of Chabannes relates that in 1010 Bishop Alduin of Limoges gave the Jewish community the choice of expulsion or conversion. It is possible that both sources refer to the local manifestation of the general anti-Jewish persecutions which occurred around 1009 and which were followed by baptisms and expulsions. At any rate, whether or not the Jews were expelled from Limoges, the expulsion order was no longer in force from the middle of the 11th century; a certain Petrus Judaeus is mentioned in a local document between 1152 and 1173 and Gentianus Judaeus in 1081. Around the middle of the 11th century R. Joseph b. Samuel *Bonfils (Tov Elem) headed the Jewish community of Limoges and Anjou. The beginnings of the modern Jewish community in Limoges date from 1775. During World War II, Limoges became the largest center of refuge for Alsatian Jews; about 1,500 families and many institutions were transferred to the town. The present community, which was formed in 1949, grew to more than 650 by 1970 and possessed a synagogue and community center.
Gross, Gal Jud (1897), 308–9; J. de Font-Reaulx (ed.), Cartulaire du Chapître de St.-Etienne de Limoges (1919), passim; La Vie Juive, 51 (1959), 15; B. Blumenkranz, Juifs et Chrétiens… (1960), index; Z. Szajkowski, Analytical Franco – Jewish Gazetteer (1966), 286; Roth, Dark Ages, index.
Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2008 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.

– March 2007 : the Ecole Nationale supérieure des beaux-arts of Lyon moves into Manutention Square (under the Skylight)

Lyon, third largest city in France, the world’s capital of silk, capital of the Alps, the world’s culinary capital and historic city where is one of the most important tourist destinations. This city was founded about 2000 years ago.
Basilica Church (La basilique notre dame de Fourvière):
Basilica Church was built between 1872 and 1884 in a dominant position overlooking the city.
The design of the basilica, by Pierre Bossan, draws from both Romanesque and Byzantine architecture, two non-Gothic models that were unusual choices at the time. It has four main towers, and a belltower topped with a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary.
Park of the Golden Head (Parc de la Tête d’or):
Park of the Golden Head is a large urban park in Lyon with an area of approximately 117 hectares with features a lake on which boating takes place during the summer months. In the central part of the park, there is a small zoo, with elephants, giraffes,reptiles, deer, primates, and other animals. There are also sports facilities, such as a velodrome, boules court, mini-golf, horse riding, and a miniature train.
Traboules are a type of passageway primarily associated with the city of Lyon which they were originally used by silk manufacturers and other merchants to transport their products. The first examples of traboules are thought to have been built in Lyon in the 4th century
Presqu’ile Distric is the heart of Lyon and due to its beautiful architecture is distinct from other parts of the city.
Extending from the foot of the Croix Rousse hill to the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône rivers, it has a preponderance of cafe, restaurants, luxury shops, department stores, banks, government buildings, and cultural institutions.

The fairs influenced a cityscape designed to accommodate the many merchants (at the time Provins accounted for over 3,000 artisans, grouped on streets or in districts) with wide streets for the convoys and the location of the stalls, the 3-floor merchant houses with sumptuous vaulted rooms for warehouses are examples from this city organized and dedicated to the fairs.
From the late 13th century onward, the commercial importance of Provins would gradually fade. Trade routes moved southward, and new trade fairs thrived in Flanders and the Rhine Valley, competing with the fairs of Champagne. In the early 14th century, when the region became a part of the kingdom of France, the Champagne fairs were gradually deserted. The abolition of merchant privileges, religious wars and epidemics also put an end to the Provins fair, but also those of Troyes, Lagny and Bar-sur-Aube. Of these four cities, Provins is the only one that has so beautifully preserved the architecture and urbanism that characterize these great medieval fair cities. From that point on, farming became the main economic activity of the city.
The fairs of Champagne
The Counts of Champagne decided to establish a system of biannual fairs that lasted several weeks. These fairs attracted merchants from all over Europe, North Africa and the Orient to exchange all sorts of objects : wool, linen, wine, silk, spices, furs, dyes, silverware ... Even the church imported ivory and precious woods from Africa and precious stones from the East that decorated religious objects. Fairs were places for wholesale trade among professionals, unlike the weekly or daily markets for individuals and consumers. They also become major banking centers. Provins created its own currency, the denarius Provins, which was one of the few currencies that was widely accepted throughout medieval Europe. Many European bankers established trading posts in Provins.
From the 12th century onward the city had its own currency but also its own yardstick, weight and grain measurements. At that time the trips were long and perilous. And so the Counts of Champagne offered to escort merchant convoys at their expense on their territory called the "fair conduits." The privileges granted to merchants quickly established a reputation for the fair and in part ensured its success. On site, the counts provided security with fair guards.
The fair was also an opportunity for parties with live music and juggling.

Nice (Nicaea) was probably founded around 350 BC by the Greeks of Marseille, and was given the name of Nikaia in honour of a victory over the neighbouring Ligurians (Nike was the Greek goddess of victory). The city soon became one of the busiest trading ports on the Ligurian coast.
During the Middle Ages, Nice participated in the wars and history of Italy. As an ally of Pisa it was the enemy of Genoa, and both the King of France and the Holy Roman Emperor endeavoured to subjugate it; but in spite of this it maintained its municipal liberties. During the 13th and 14th centuries the city fell more than once into the hands of the Counts of Provence, but it regained its independence even though related to Genoa.
In the second half of the 20th century, Nice enjoyed an economic boom primarily driven by tourism and construction. Two men dominated this period: Jean Medecin, mayor from 1928 to 1943 and from 1947 to 1965, and his son Jacques, mayor from 1966 to 1990. Under their leadership, there was extensive urban renewal, including many new constructions. These included the convention centre, theatres, new thoroughfares and expressways.
The city of Nice is located in the extreme south-east of France, at 30 kilometers from the Franco-ltalian border. With 343,895 inhabitants (2014) it is the fifth largest city in France (after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse) and the 2nd largest city in the South-PACA region. lts agglomeration has 943 695 inhabitants (2012). lt is located in the heart of the seventh largest urban area in France, with 1,004,914 inhabitants. The city is the center of the Metropole Nice Côte d'Azur, which brings together forty-nine municipalities for 536,327 inhabitants (2013). Demographically, and in comparison with the communal averages at the national level, the city is marked by an overrepresentation of young and young adults (15/29 years) and older people (75 years and over) and an under-representation of the youngest (under 15 years) and adults (30-44 years).

From 28 December 986, the Bishop of Gap had sovereignty over the city due to concerns about future Muslim invasions, and held that power until Revolutionary reforms in 1801 despite Gap being annexed by the French crown in 1512.
Gap and its area became part of the Comté de Provence, established at the end of the 10th century, and then by the County of Forcalquier, which separated in the 12th century. The Bishops of Gap were also the temporal lords of the city. But their control was long disputed by officers of the Counts of Forcalquier, notably under the episcopate of Arnoux, who later became the bishop of the city. On the death of the last Count of Forcalquier in 1209, the Embrun and Gap areas were passed to the Dauphiné while those of Forcalquier and Sisteron returned to the County of Provence. It is for this reason that the current coat of arms of the Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is the coat of arms of the Dauphiné. In 1349 the Dauphin of Viennois Humbert II passed on his Principality to the eldest son of Philippe VI of France, the future King of France Charles V. From 1349 to 1457 Dauphiné remained a Principality separated from France, whose prince was the eldest son of the King of France. In 1457, Charles VII put an end to this status and joined the province to the Kingdom of France.
In the 14th century, the city took advantage of the benefits of the installation of the Popes in Avignon, which brought a more frequent passage of travellers to develop a craft of wool and skins, which made it thrive. Avignon linkages were strengthened by the presence of many clerics of the entourage of the Pope, within the chapter of the canons of Gap.
Renaissance and early modern era
The 16th and 17th centuries were particularly dark times for the city. The Wars of Religion were lethal in the region. Gap was a Catholic stronghold, while the Champsaur switched to the "allegedly reformed religion". After various skirmishes, François de Bonne, leader of the Protestants, decided to attack Gap, nevertheless protected by 20 towers.

(Source: Office of Tourisme)
Friday evening jazz is held in the main square during the summer months of July and August, along with other activites throughout the year.
- 89m2 living space/3 floors; situated on a stone corner lot
- two large bedrooms (19 & 20m2)/two bathrooms (1 en suite with separate WC)
- non-smoking interior environment
- treated wooden beams throughout 2012 (10 year guarantee)
- living room with built-in library and stone fireplace
- fully equipped kitchen
- master bedroom has built-in closet & ensuite bathroom
- cave/wine cellar underground
- AC/heat reversible
- new roof with waterproofing Dec. 2012 (10 yr. guarantee)
- new high performance water heater/boiler (2015)
- patio and rock garden area
- double-glazed windows throughout
- panoramic sea view
- 30 meters from navette stop (free shuttle bus circulates every 15 minutes all day long from the center of town up to the village) or 5-minute walk down to town center
- free street parking
PRICE: 356,000 Euros
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In 1643, a merchant named Claude Trudon came to Paris and soon after became owner of a boutique on rue Saint-Honoré, where he made and sold candles for use in homes and churches. The year Louis XIV was crowned King of France, Claude Trudon opened his first family business, manufacturing wax and candles. In 1687, he became apothecary to Queen Marie-Thérèse at Versailles.
The wax was collected from bee hives, cleaned and whitened through a series of water baths, cut into long strips, and sun dried in open air. Due to the extreme purity of the wax, the sunlight contributed to whitening the wax, creating a magnificent glow, especially though the delicate edge.
In 1737, Jerome Trudon purchased La Manufacture Royale de Cire, supplying the royal court, as well as prominent churches in Paris and the region. During the French Revolution, the royal emblem was no longer used, to prevent the company from being destroyed; however, its reputation helped it survive through the centuries, despite the arrival of electricity.

In 996, the relics of Saint Ayoul were discovered at the foot of the Upper Town, near a chapel dedicated to Saint-Médard. This miracle was behind the construction of a monastery and a church dedicated to Saint Ayoul and many other richly endowed religious institutions – churches, chapels and monasteries – emerged. The Lower Town then developed at the confluence of the Durteint and the Voulzie rivers. But the political and economic ambitions of the Counts of Champagne would forever change the fate of Provins, and they took advantage of the strategic location of the city, at the crossroads of major thoroughfares between northern and southern Europe. The region is the obligatory passage between the ports of the North Sea and the Mediterranean. Flanders initiated trade with Northern Europe and the East, and Italy opened the doors of Byzantium, Africa and the Orient. They would create and develop an international trade fair in Provins and in three other cities in the region (Troyes, Lagny and Bar-sur-Aube). This is the beginning of the golden age of Provins and of the famous fairs of Champagne.
From the 11th century onward, cloth, leather and cutlery manufacturing was developed. With the fairs, the reputation of these workshops extended across Europe and helped the city prosper. Provins is famous for the product of its textile industry: a dark blue woolen sheet called the "ners de Provins." The town was fortified to ensure the safety of residents, merchants and their goods, but also to affirm the power of the counts. The spectacular ramparts, part of which is still visible today, date back to the 13th century and protected the city for nearly 5 kilometers. The city reached its peak during the reign of Thibaud IV of Champagne (1201-1253), when there were no fewer than 80,000 inhabitants. Its structured economic system allowed the city to become the third in France after Paris and Rouen, and was one of the commercial capitals of Europe.
Underground quarries were mined for clay soil, called "fuller's earth", which was used to degrease the wool. To fully imbibe the cloth, it had to be fulled, hence the name given to this clay.
The fairs also accompanied the development of a multitude of activities that together inspired and encouraged a particular kind of urban fabric.

Town Centre Pics
French Cities -- German Cities -- Art
Lyon -- Voiron -- Grenoble -- le Saint-Suaire -- Romans-sur-Isère -- Valence -- Roman Vienna lies just south of Lyon -- Digne-les-Bains & Embrun -- Pays des Écrins (situé dans la vallée de la Durance en aval de Briançon) -- Geneva -- Berne
Celtic/Frank History --
Germaniæ Historicæ --
Anglo Saxons et.al.

(July 2012)
The name is Germanic in origin and is reconstructible as *liudik-, from the Germanic word *liudiz “people”, which is found in for example Dutch lui(den), lieden, German Leute, Old English lēod (English lede) and Icelandic lýður (“people”). It is found in Lithuanian as liaudis (“people”), in Ukrainian as liudy (“people”), in Russian as liudi (“people”), in Latin as Leodicum or Leodium, in Middle Dutch as ludic or ludeke.
In French, Liège is associated with the epithet la cité ardente (“the fervent city”). This term, which emerged around 1905, originally referred to the city’s history of rebellions against Burgundian rule, but was appropriated to refer to its economic dynamism during the Industrial Revolution.
Early Middle Ages
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Although settlements already existed in Roman times, the first references to Liège are from 558, when it was known as Vicus Leudicus. Around 705, Saint Lambert of Maastricht is credited with completing the Christianization of the region, indicating that up to the early 8th century the religious practices of antiquity had survived in some form. Christian conversion may still not have been quite universal, since Lambert was murdered in Liège and thereafter regarded as a martyr for his faith. To enshrine St. Lambert’s relics, his successor, Hubertus (later to become St. Hubert), built a basilica near the bishop’s residence which became the true nucleus of the city. A few centuries later, the city became the capital of a prince-bishopric, which lasted from 985 till 1794. The first prince-bishop, Notger, transformed the city into a major intellectual and ecclesiastical centre, which maintained its cultural importance during the Middle Ages. Pope Clement VI recruited several musicians from Liège to perform in the Papal court at Avignon, thereby sanctioning the practice of polyphony in the religious realm. The city was renowned for its many churches, the oldest of which, St Martin’s, dates from 682. Although nominally part of the Holy Roman Empire, in practice it possessed a large degree of independence.

About 450, Vienne's bishops became archbishops,several of whom in the played an important cultural role, e.g. Mamertus, who established Rogation pilgrimages, and the poet, Avitus (498-518). Vienne's archbishops and those of Lyon disputed the title of "Primate of All the Gauls" based on the dates of founding of the cities compared to the dates of founding of the bishoprics. Vienne's archbishopric was suppressed in 1790 during the revolution and officially terminated 11 years later by the Concordat of 1801.
Vienne was a target during the Migration Period: it was taken by the Kingdom of the Burgundians in 438, but re-taken by the Romans and held until 461. In 534 the Merovingian-led Franks captured Vienne. It was then sacked by the Lombards in 558, and later by the Moors in 737. When Francia's king divided Frankish Burgundia into three parts in 843 by the Treaty of Verdun, Vienne became part of Middle Francia.
In the Kingdom of Provence
King Charles II the Bald assigned the district in 869 to Comte Boso of Provence, who in 879 proclaimed himself king of Provence and on his death in 887 was buried in the cathedral church of St. Maurice. Vienne then continued as capital of the Dauphiné Vienne of the Kingdom of Provence, from 882 of the Kingdom of West Francia and from 933 of the Kingdom of Arles until in 1032, when it reverted to the Holy Roman Empire, but the real rulers were the archbishops of Vienne. Their rights were repeatedly recognized, but they had serious local rivals in the counts of Albon, and later Dauphins of the neighboring countship of the Viennois. In 1349, the reigning Dauphin sold his rights to the Dauphiné to France, but the archbishop stood firm and Vienne was not included in this sale. The archbishops finally surrendered their territorial powers to France in 1449. Gui de Bourgogne, who was archbishop 1090–1119, was pope from 1119 to 1124 as Callixtus II.