Lyon Facts

Lyon is divided into 9 districts. We have decided to present the town to you by quarters, which in our view is more representative than artificially created boundaries.

Vieux Lyon - Vieux Lyon is without doubt the most famous and most visited area of the town, honored in 1998 with classification as a world heritage centre by UNESCO. In addition to the Palais Episcopal Saint-Jean and the Cathédrale Saint Jean, visitors will find many townhouses which date from the middle ages and the Renaissance: the Maison du Soleil (Saint Georges quarter), the Tour Rose, the Auberge du Gouvernement, the Maison Thomassin, the Hôtel Laurencin, the Maison des Avocats, the famous Cour des Loges hotel, the Maison...

...is the third-largest city in France. The city has a population of 472,000, with more than 2.9 million people spread across the large urban area that surrounds it. Lyon is the center of an industrial region -- textile manufacturing is especially important. It's a leader in publishing and banking, and it's one of the world's silk capitals. Some of the country's best restaurants, including Paul Bocuse, are in and around Lyon. Such dishes as Lyon sausage, quenelles, and tripe Lyonnais are world famous. The region's succulent Bresse poultry is the best in France.

Lyon has urban sprawl, and some of the most humid summers in France. Still, it's much more relaxed and friendlier than Paris. Parks in...