The city is known for its gastronomy, including traditional bouchons, which serve local dishes like coq au vin and quenelles. Lyon is the seat of a university and is the most important educational centre outside Paris.
Lyon is a UNESCO World Heritage site, thanks to its historic old town, Roman ruins, and Renaissance-era architecture.
Cultural life is reflected in the riches of the local museums, which include a textile collection, the archaeological museum at Fourvière, a museum of fine arts, and a museum of printing and banking. The collections of the municipal library are noted for their specimens of items from the first 50 years of printing and for their rare books.
City theatres include the Opéra, the Célestins (a municipal theatre), and some avant-garde companies that have gained national recognition. Music and drama festivals, held every year in June in the Roman theatre at Fourvière, provide a reminder of the long history of the city.
Lyon is easily accessible by train or plane, with direct connections to other major cities in France and Europe.
Lyon is the third-largest city in France, after Paris and Marseille, with a population of over 500,000 people.
Passerelle de l'Homme de la Roche