LYON, The Second Largest City Of France

Lyon is called the oldest city of France. It goes back to the Roman times when it was then the major city of Gaul (France ancient name). Lyon was founded by the Roman Empire in 43 BC.

In the 15th century, Lyon became the European trade capital and attracted traders from all over Europe and even Asia.

Lyon was really the city of trade fairs in the whole Europe under kings Charles VII and later Louis XI. The city achieved new heights of prosperity in the 17th and 18th centuries owing to the brilliance and cunning of Louis XIV.

Yes, Lyon is an old city with lost of history in its background. We can still have a taste of it age as we follow the old narrow paved streets in the oldest quarter of the city called " le vieux Lyon" The old Lyon.

Before Lyon was named the capital of gastronomy it was called the capital of silk, because it was a major silk industry city.

Lyon has been the capital of silk since renaissance and still is the number one city in Europe in silk and rayon production.

Lyon is also huge in metal, machine, clothing, and chemical industries.

Lyon was the city where the first stock exchange in France was founded in 1506.

The University of Lyon, which is a prestigious and famous center of education in France, was founded in 1808.


Closer to us, during world war 2 Lyon was the headquarter of the "La Resistance" (resistance against Nazis) and the home of Resistance leader Jean Moulin. My grand parents lived in Lyon during this very tough time the city has seen.

There are two major rivers that goes through Lyon and meet there. There are named "Le Rhône" and "La Saône"

Le Rhône starts his journey in the mountain of Switzerland and goes all the way to the Mediterranean see in the south of France.

La Saône start comes from the "Vosges" region and meets le Rhône in Lyon.

Lyon is also famous for its beautiful cathedrals and squares.

The most famous cathedral in Lyon is La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere built from 1872 and 1876 by architect Pierre Bossan on an ancient Roman Forum, on the hills of Fourviere which oversees the whole city of Lyon which makes it visible from all over the city.


The Basilique distinguished itself with its four octagonal towers and crenellated walls.



You can get a perfect view of the Basilique de Fourviere from the most famous square or Place of Lyon, La Place Bellecour

Place Bellecour is the largest square of Lyon and famous for its "Terre Battue" on the ground just like the tennis courts of Roland Garros.

It is a very pleasant walk to walk across the square
on soft terre battue ground with the beautiful view of fourviere looking down at us.



Another famous square of Lyon is La Place Des Terreaux" which in past years used to be filled with pigeons just like St. Marc Square in Venice.



If you like the medieval Marais district in Paris, you'll love Vieux Lyon. The Vieux Lyon is Europe's largest Renaissance quarter.

Streets with Italian style courtyards and mazes of hidden passageways are fascinating to explore. These passageways are known as "traboules". Their original purpose was to provide shelter from the weather for the silk-weavers as they moved their delicate pieces of work from one part of the manufacturing process to another.



The traboules of La Croix Rousse and Vieux Lyon (higher spot of the city) are public thoroughfares during daylight hours.

They are free maps of the traboules of View Lyon for the tourists.

The Park located in the city of Lyon itself and is one of the largest parc in Europe with 105 hectares (270 Acres). The park has a lac and a small island which you can reach by boat or from underground.



The park also includes a zoo which is undergoing an update with an African territory of 3 hectares (8 acres)

Another very famous part of the park is its "Roseraie" A huge garden which includes just about all the rose bushes kind that exist.

The Subway





Lyon Metro (subway) was born in December of 1974 with one line. In 1978 most of the lines that are running today were completed at the exception of 3 more in 1981, 1984 and 1992.

The metro is serving the 450.000 inhabitants of Lyon and 1.3 millions in the metropolitan area of the city.

The Tramway

The tramway called "la ficelle" travels around La Croix-Rouse, the higher spot of Lyon where streets going up and down hill.



The Bus

Lyon buses have 3 doors and you can get in from any door you which as you can pay automatically at each door.

The first TGV ran its course for the first time in 1981 between Paris and Lyon at a speed of 250 kilometers per hour (to give you an idea a car drive 100-120 kilometers per hour max). Today the TGV has reached a 300 kilometers per hour and its supposed to reach over 500/h in the years to come.



I happened to remember the first TGV Paris-Lyon trip which was televised with journalists on board.

The TGV was revolutionary because it made Lyon only 2 hours form Paris instead of 5 by road, and this for an extremely affordable price. I lived in Paris for 5 years and was making the trip once to twice a month to go back home see my family. I had the chance to have quite a taste of the TGV.


This is what TGV looked like in 1981.

Today you can reach Lyon by TGV from just about any major city of France and Europe.

Lyon by night





The hill of Fourviere



Vieux Lyon (old Lyon)



La Part Dieu

Who are Guignol and Gnafron?

Guignol and Gnafron are muppets and also the mascots of Lyon. Guinol is a well educated distinguished character, as for Gnafron is a way more simple minded one and always having drunk a bit too much wine. They are always talking about something that basically only Guignol really understands. The pair makes a very funny show.



French have always willingly made fun of themselves for liking wine.

Lyon is definitely the capital of gastronomy. There are some dishes and foods found only in Lyon. One of the famous one is "Saucisson Lyonnais" a salami sausage that is one of the best if the THE best of the world.

The Saucisson Lyonnais can be dried or raw. The dry one is ready to eat, the raw sacisson need to be cook and eaten either hot or cold.



Coming soon I will be adding a recipe of "Saucisson Brioche" and more food stuff from Lyon.