What is Lyon famous for?

What visitors and newcomers to Lyon immediately see when they first explore its streets is its heritage. History has left the city with many landmarks, such as ancient ruins from Antiquity, Renaissance buildings in the old Lyon (Vieux Lyon, in French) or even modern buildings in the Confluence district. In the Part-Dieu district you will also find skyscrapers, many of them recently built (Tour Silex 2 and To-Lyon).

As you explore the city, you can see the Fourvière Hill with its basilica in the distance and go to the Place Bellecour, the largest square in the city (and the largest pedestrian square in Europe!) to see the bronze statue of Louis XIV. If you come and live in Lyon, you will discover incredible landmarks such as the Halle Tony Garnier (a former slaughterhouse built at the beginning of the 20th century and converted into a concert hall in 1988) or the Manufacture des tabacs de Lyon, a former tobacco factory that is now the campus of the Jean Moulin University Lyon 3. You can also discover the traboules in the old town, covered passageways originally used by silk workers to transport their products quickly around the city.

And of course, Lyon is famous for its Parc de la Tête d’Or, one of the largest in France. This 105-hectare park is famous for its lake and botanical garden. It is one of the most popular places for residents to enjoy sunny days in spring or to see the colourful trees in autumn.

Lyon is also famous for its thriving cultural life and its museums. One of the best known is the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon, which displays works from ancient Egypt to modern art. The Musée des Confluences, on the other hand, is a natural sciences and anthropology museum that opened in 2014 with four major exhibitions on topics such as the origin of the universe, the evolution of life and the development of societies. There are many other museums in Lyon: residents and tourists can visit the Centre for the History of Resistance and Deportation, the Miniature and Cinema Museum or the Museum of Textile Arts.

Culture is also found in its ancient heritage. The city was founded by the Romans and was the capital of the Gauls after the conquest. This historical importance has left its mark and today, you can visit the Ancient Theatre of Fourvière, the Odeon of Lyon or Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls. Lyon also has many theatres (one of the most famous is the Théâtre des Célestins, built in 1881). Here you can enjoy plays from all periods and styles throughout the year. And of course there is the Opéra National de Lyon or the Maison de la Danse (House of Dance) for dance and music lovers.

Have you ever considered studying in Lyon? It’s an excellent decision as the city is globally acclaimed for its universities and private schools, such as:

• Claude Bernard University Lyon 1
• Lumière University Lyon 2
• Jean Moulin University Lyon 3
• Catholic University of Lyon (UCLy)
• École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (ENS Lyon)
• INSA Lyon
• EM Lyon Business School

With numerous institutions to choose from, students can study any subject they desire, ranging from the humanities to mathematics, engineering (with various specialisations), theology, psychology, biology, physics, and more. Each year, over 175,000 students enrol to study in Lyon.

Lyon welcomes students from all over the world: 21,000 choose the city every year. You will have the opportunity to learn French, a global language with a long and rich literary history. If you want to study in a beautiful country and a vibrant city, this is one of the best choices.

Did you know that the city is also the birthplace of cinema? Lyon is famous for the Lumière brothers who invented the cinema in 1895 in what is now called the rue du Premier Film (First Movie Street).

It was there that the cinématographe was created and that they shot one of the earliest films in history. Its 46 seconds show workers leaving the factory next to the Lumière house. Called “Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory” in English (“La Sortie de l’usine Lumière à Lyon” in French), it is one of the most important moments in the history of cinema. It was shown with 9 other films on the night of 28 December 1895.

The house and hangar where Auguste and Louis Lumière lived and worked is now the Institut Lumière and is a museum dedicated to the early days of cinema and the brothers’ inventions. It is a must for anyone interested in the history of filmmaking. There, you can see the place where the workers were filmed leaving the factory more than a century ago.

Lyon is also known as a city of sport. As one of the largest cities in France, it is home to top teams in all kinds of sports, including:

• Olympique Lyonnais (women’s and men’s football clubs)
• ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne (basketball)
• LOU Rugby
• Lyon Villeurbanne XIII (rugby)
• FC Lyon Hockey (field hockey)

To host so many teams, the city of Lyon and its metropolitan area have built an impressive number of sports facilities, such as:

• Parc Olympique Lyonnais
• Stade de Gerland
• Stade Georges-Lyvet
• Patinoire Charlemagne (ice rink)
• Palais des sports de Lyon (a large complex that can host many different sports)

If you want to go and see a game in the evening or at the weekend, Lyon has a lot to offer and there is always something to see.

Many places are open to the general public, with many fitness clubs, a dozen swimming pools, 50 skate parks and other outdoor activity areas, and 2 ice rinks. And of course, the Parc de la Tête d’Or is the perfect place to go cycling or running in the cool morning hours.

And finally, one of the things that make Lyon world famous is its high quality cuisine! France as a whole is renowned for its food, and Lyon is often considered as the world capital of gastronomy. It is the home city of Paul Bocuse (1926-2018), one of the most renowned French chefs in history.

What are the most famous dishes in Lyon? Here is a selection:

• Pike quenelles (a mixture of dough, cream, egg yolk and pike, formed into sausages and cooked in the oven), served with a tomato, crayfish or béchamel sauce
• Tablier de sapeur (a piece of tripe marinated in white wine, then breaded and fried)
• Salade lyonnaise (made with lettuce, lardons, croûtons, poached eggs and vinaigrette sauce)
• Cervelle de canut (a spread made with fromage blanc, garlic, shallots, chives, salt and pepper, served with potatoes and toasted bread)

If you come to live in Lyon, you will have the opportunity to discover the traditional restaurants of the city: the bouchons. Here you will be able to taste all the traditional local dishes, accompanied by the perfect glass of wine (to be consumed responsibly). The bouchons are renowned for their cosy, traditional atmosphere and their strict adherence to the use of quality ingredients.

Lyon is also known for the mères (mothers). Most of these women worked for wealthy families before opening their own restaurants, especially after 1929 when the economic crisis made them lose their jobs. They played a major role in forming the culinary traditions and fame of Lyon by offering simple but quality food. One of the most famous was the mère Brazier (1895-1977) (who first started working with the mère Fillioux). She was the first woman to be awarded 3 stars for 2 restaurants at the same time, in 1933.

In Lyon, all your personal and professional projects can come to life. With its incredible heritage, its universities and its top quality of life, it is one of the best cities in France to prepare for your future career or to start a new life in another country.

Any questions? Contact us and we’ll help you!