Things to do in Lyon, France

With two rivers running through its heart — la Saône and la Rhône — Lyon is blessed with a rich 2,000-year-old history. Lyon is the third largest city in France and a long established business center, yet it possesses plenty of Old World attractions, including place Bellecour and the Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls. Lyon is also said to have "more restaurants per square metre than any place on earth." Old Lyon stretches out along the Saône and invites tourists with its Florentine architecture. Quartier Merciere and the surrounding area form the central commercial district, offering a number of cafés and shops. Visitors will want to view the collection of Egyptian fabrics at the Historique des Tissus; the masterworks of Rubens and El Greco at Musee des Beaux-Arts; and the history of cinematography at the Lumiere brothers' house.

With two rivers running through its heart — la Saône and la Rhône — Lyon is blessed with a rich 2,000-year-old history. Lyon is the third largest city in France and a long established business center, yet it possesses plenty of Old World attractions, including place Bellecour and the Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls. Lyon is also said to have "more restaurants per square metre than any place on earth." Old Lyon stretches out along the Saône and invites tourists with its Florentine architecture. Quartier Merciere and the surrounding area form the central commercial district, offering a number of cafés and shops. Visitors will want to view the collection of Egyptian fabrics at the Historique des Tissus; the masterworks of Rubens and El Greco at Musee des Beaux-Arts; and the history of cinematography at the Lumiere brothers' house.