by Harry Rowley

St Jean photo by Haragayato/Wikimedia

Travel guide – Search around, there are plenty of websites that provide travel information to help you decide where you want to visit first. Sitting in between two mighty French rivers, the Rhône and the Saône, Lyon is an impressive city in its own right. Surrounded by scenic hills and full of great neighbourhoods, Lyon is a city you’ll be glad that you discovered.

Parisians probably wouldn’t admit it but Lyon is the kitchen of France. This gastronomic capital of a nation that isn’t short on good food often plays second fiddle to the big guy up north, but Lyon is no second city. And there is much more than just food here.

Take the funicular to the summit of the “Hill that prays” and you’ll have all of Lyon at your feet. Other than the remarkable views of Lyon, Fourvière is loaded with things to see. The ancient remains of a Roman theatre and Odeon are leftovers from when the city was known as Lugdunum. Lyon is littered with reminders of its past as one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire. Brush up on your history at the Museum of Roman-Gallo Civilization.


Notre Dame de Fourvier photo by Stevage/Wikimedia

The word 'capitulation' will be the farthest thing from your mind after you walk through the doors of the Resistance Museum, a poignant nod to the city’s war-torn past. Housed in a building that was used by the Gestapo in 1943, the museum is a shrine to the city that was the capital of the resistance. Many a resistance fighter disappeared behind these doors after being subjected to Nazi barbarism. Touching on topics such as deportation to concentration camps, life under Nazi rule and the spirit of the resistance, this museum is both inspiring and sombre. La Place Bellecour is at the heart of Lyon and a great place to grab a coffee and enjoy the sights. You’ll have nothing to disrupt the view either. This is the largest clear square in Europe – no trees or greenery here, just lots of space. An imposing statue of Louis XIV towers overhead the hundreds of people who congregate here every day. The square is a hotbed for street performers as well.

Roman Theatre photo by Ampere/Wikimedia

Situated on a hilltop, the Croix-Rousse is one of the many picturesque neighbourhoods that make Lyon such an amazing place. Get into stroll mode and wander without a map through the neighbourhood’s narrow streets. Full of great little shops, cafés and restaurants, the Croix-Rousse is one of those places that will make you wish you lived here. The outdoor food market is well worth your time. You may want to turn away if you see someone buy one of the cute bunnies; these aren’t pets and the little bunny’s days are numbered. The traboules are quite literally one of Lyon’s secret gems: they are a series of hidden passageways located underneath the city.

Originally used by the city’s silk merchants during the 19th century, the passageways came in handy during World War II and were partly responsible for keeping the Nazis from taking complete control of the city. Some date from Roman times and they are all fascinating. Over 40 of the 315 passageways are open for tours. Don’t forget to bring your breadcrumbs.

If you’re planning a trip to Lyon or any one of France’s other culture-infused city’s, you’ll likely need a travel guide – search around, there are plenty of websites that provide travel information to help you decide where you want to visit first.