You’re Gonna Hear Lyon ROOOOAR

As the emblem of Lyon, Lion shares the same French pronunciation as the city name. “Avant! Avant! Lion le melhor!” Louis Vlll le Lion, the King of France, supported Lyonnais bourgeoisie to revolt against the clergy in 1269. The slogan became the motto of Lyon, symbolising the four characters of this great feline: nobility, strength, resistance, and courage.

The story of Lugdunum began in 43 B.C., nine years after Caesar had conquered Gaul. Lucius Munatius Plancus, the governor of Gaul, was sent to found a colony. Commanding a strategic spot at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône Rivers, Lyon was an ideal option. The city gradually spread to the river neighborhoods, the peninsula and the right bank of the Saône river.

Lugdunum Musée et Théâtres Romains is the best illustration of the city's reputation. Augustus divided Celtic Gaul into three provinces: Lyon, Belgium and Aquitaine, and Lugdunum became the capital of the province of Lyon. It was the site of administrative services shared by several provinces, with an establishment of a roadway system and the headquarters of a coin workshop.

The creation of the Sanctuary of the Three Gauls and the annual meeting of the Council of the Gauls made up of 60 Gallic tribes on the Croix-Rousse Hill, enhanced the status of the city. Lyon lost its rank as a capital to Trier at the end of the third century, yet Le Mur des Canuts showcased how this “Working Hill” used to be a major hub for textiles in Europe in the 19th century.

Legend has it that Virgin Mary pushed away a Cholera epidemic in 1832 and prevented Prussian invasion in 1870 during Franco-Prussian War, Notre-Dame of Fourvière was built as dedication. Standing atop the “Praying Hill”, this 48m basilica draws from Romanesque and Byzantine architecture, a non-Gothic style with 4 virtue towers of prudence, temperance, force and justice.

As the third largest city in France, Lyon has played an active role as a commercial and industrial powerhouse for the past 500 years, as shown in the Fresque des Lyonnais. Dive into Vieux Lyon, the largest Renaissance area in Europe after Venice. Don’t miss Saint-Jean Baptiste Cathedral, a blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles, with its astronomical clock and stained-glass windows.

Opposite the cathedral, the Place Bellecour is the third largest square in France. Walking north to Place des Terreaux, the centrepiece of the Presqu'île will definitely draw all the visitors' attention. Created by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi of Statue of Liberty, this sculpture with 4 horses pulling the chariot symbolises rivers galloping seawards. What a wealth of enticing experiences.

Either the Traboule et Cour des Voraces or Traboules du Vieux Lyon are hidden passageways for trading initially, yet they became secret routes during the war. Roaming around, we can discover countless art de rue with trompe-l'œil. While the zoo and botanical garden in Parc de la Tête d'Or are ideal for nature lovers, Bal des pompiers de la Croix-Rousse can extend our magical moment.

Un voyage inattendu à traverser le temps et l'espace

Rome ne s'est pas faite en un jour. Lyon, c'est pareil.

Lyon était une province de L'empire romain. Auguste divise la Gaule celtique en trois provinces: la Lyonnaise, la Belgique et l'Aquitaine. Chaque année, les délégués des 60 tribus gauloises sont rassemblées au sein du Conseil des Gaules. Le grand théâtre est la meilleure illustration de la réputation de cette ville.

Au profit de Trèves, Lyon a perdu son statut de capitale des Gaules à la fin du troisième siècle. Cependant, le XIXe siècle à Lyon a été marqué par la manufacture de la soie. Les canuts se sont établis sur la colline de la Croix-Rousse. Pour éviter de longs détours, on traversait entre la Croix-Rousse et la Place des Terreaux.

En tant que puissance commerciale et industrielle aujourd'hui, Lyon est devenue la troisième ville de France la plus peuplée. On peut traverser le temps et l'espace en visitant la Fresque des Lyonnais. Cette œuvre en trompe-l’œil représente la plupart des personnes célèbres, de Antoine de Saint-Exupéry à Paul Bocuse en passant par les frères Lumière.

Lyon est synonyme de galerie à ciel ouvert.