Lyon - July 1st to 8th
Lyon is the third-largest city (pop ~550,000) and second-largest urban area (~2.2M) of France. It is located in the country's east-central part at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône. Inhabitants of the city are called Lyonnais. The city is known for its cuisine and gastronomy, and historical and architectural landmarks; part of it is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lyon was historically an important area for the production and weaving of silk. Lyon played a significant role in the history of cinema: it is where Auguste and Louis Lumière invented the cinematograph. It is also known for its light festival, the Fête des Lumières, which begins every 8 December and lasts for four days, earning Lyon the title of Capital of Lights.
In 43 BC, the Roman Senate ordered the creation of a settlement at the confluence of the Saône and Rhône rivers. The foundation was built on Fourvière hill and became known as Lugdunum. The city became the starting point of the principal Roman roads in the area, and it quickly became the capital of the province, Gallia Lugdunensis. In 843, by the Treaty of Verdun, Lyon went to the Holy Roman Emperor Lothair I. It was later made part of the Kingdom of Arles. Lyon did not come under French control until the 14th century.
During the Renaissance, the city's development was driven by the silk trade, which strengthened its ties to Italy. In 1793, the city was besieged by Revolutionary armies for over two months before surrendering in October. Many buildings were destroyed and more than 2,000 people were executed. A decade later, Napoleon ordered the reconstruction of all the buildings demolished during this period.
During World War II, Lyon was a centre for the occupying Nazi forces, including Klaus Barbie, the infamous "Butcher of Lyon". But the city was also a stronghold of the French Resistance – the many secret passages known as traboules enabled people to escape Gestapo raids. On 3 September 1944, Lyon was liberated by the 1st Free French Division and the Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur. The city is now home to a resistance museum.
Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière
The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière was built with private funds between 1872 and 1884 in a dominant position overlooking the city. The site it occupies was once the Roman forum of Trajan, the forum vetus (old forum), thus its name (as an inverted corruption of the French Vieux-Forum). Fourvière is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, to whom is attributed the salvation of the city of Lyon from the bubonic plague that swept Europe in 1643. Each year on December 8th, Lyon thanks the Virgin for saving the city by lighting candles throughout the city, in what is called the Fête des Lumières or the Festival of Lights. The Virgin is also credited with saving the city a number of other times, such as from a Cholera epidemic in 1832, and from Prussian invasion in 1870.
Fourvière has four main towers, and a belltower topped with a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary. It features fine mosaics, superb stained glass, and a crypt of Saint Joseph. The basilica has acquired the local nickname of "the upside-down elephant", because the building looks like the body of an elephant and the four towers look like its legs. Fourvière actually contains two churches, one on top of the other. The upper sanctuary is very ornate, while the lower is a much simpler design.
Ancient Theatre of Fourvière
The theatre was built in two steps: around 15 BC, a theatre with a 90 m diameter was built next to the hill. At the beginning of the 2nd century, the final construction added a last place for the audience. The diameter is 108 m, and there were seats for 10,000 people.
England Team Bus
Street Art
Lyon has a lot of street art and murals. This was on a sign keeping people out of a construction area.
Our AirBnB in Lyon - Très Chic!
This apartment was quite small, but very stylish. Actually, it wasn't that small, but it was laid out in small chunks.
Our host was Annie-Claude. She greeted us at the door and had a cold bottle of wine in the fridge waiting for us. She told us that this was her (and her husband's) pied-à-terre. They spend most of their time at their country home outside the city. Pied-à-terre is french for "foot on the ground", which essentially means 'a small apartment in the city'.
Wonder Woman Was There, Supporting the US!
Lyon Stadium from our Seats
Monument to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a French writer, poet, aristocrat, journalist and pioneering aviator. He became a laureate of several of France's highest literary awards and also won the United States National Book Award. He is best remembered for his novella The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince) and for his lyrical aviation writings, including Wind, Sand and Stars and Night Flight.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and The Little Prince
Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince), first published in April 1943, is a novella, the most famous work Saint-Exupéry. The novella has been voted the best book of the 20th century in France. Translated into 300 languages and dialects, selling nearly two million copies annually, and with lifetime sales of over 140 million copies worldwide, it has become one of the best-selling and most translated books ever published.
Enjoying the View of Lyon Across the River
The building with the spire across the river is the Église Saint-Georges
Roman Arch
The old roman arch has been incorporated into the newer building.
Self Service Beer??!
It seems like such a good idea, but we heard that it wasn't working out that well. Go figure.
Walking Along The Rhône River
