Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is a melting pot of millennia-old history and diverse cultural currents. Its origins date back to the Gallo-Roman era, with Lyon (Lugdunum) as the former capital of Gaul and an important centre of the Roman Empire. The Middle Ages shaped the region through the emergence of powerful abbeys like Cluny, which exerted influence on art and knowledge throughout Europe, as well as through the construction of numerous Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals and castles.Architecturally, this rich past is reflected: From the Roman theatres in Lyon and Vienne, through the imposing Romanesque churches in the Auvergne, such as the Cathedral of Clermont-Ferrand, to the Gothic masterpieces and characteristic Renaissance facades of Lyon with their famous Traboules. These hidden passageways, used for silk production in the 16th century and by silk weavers in the 19th century, are a unique architectural feature.Local traditions are deeply rooted in the way of life and manifest themselves in gastronomy, which plays an outstanding role with Lyon as the world capital of gastronomy. Cultural peculiarities also include ancient crafts, strongly influenced by Lyon's silk industry, as well as regional festivals and markets that keep the region's rich heritage alive.