Lyon

Lyon is a melting pot of cultures, boasting over 2000 years of history reflected in every corner of the city. Founded as the Roman colony Lugdunum in 43 BC, it quickly rose to become the capital of Gaul and still preserves impressive Roman theatres and odeons on Fourvière hill.The city experienced a golden age during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, particularly thanks to the silk industry and printing. The UNESCO World Heritage site Vieux Lyon, with its narrow streets, colourful Renaissance buildings, and characteristic "Traboules" – hidden passages – bears witness to this era. These passages once served the silk weavers, the "Canuts," for the swift transport of their goods.Architecturally, the spectrum stretches from Roman ruins and medieval cathedrals like St-Jean to modern structures in the Confluence district. A deeply rooted tradition is its outstanding gastronomy; Lyon is considered the capital of French culinary art, famous for its "Bouchons Lyonnais," which serve authentic regional cuisine. Culturally, the annual Fête des Lumières in December also shapes the city's image, a festival of lights that harks back to a centuries-old religious tradition and today attracts artists from all over the world.

Lyon features an extensive and excellently developed public transport network, encompassing subways, trams, buses, and even funiculars. This allows visitors to explore the city comfortably and in an environmentally friendly manner, without being reliant on a private vehicle. Supplementing this, the popular bike-sharing system Vélo'v provides a flexible opportunity to discover the banks of the Rhône and Saône.