Lyon

France's second largest city! Although this used to be considered a gray and dull city, tourists are beginning to discover the many treasuries this city hides. If you come with me I will show you all the marvels foreign tourists have been missing for decades. I am sure you will wonder why this city does not receive more attention in international travel guides when you finish this Photographic Tour. The beauty of some spots surprised me, and I am sure they will surprise you as well.

Cathedral Saint-Jean

This church sits in the Saint Jean quarter, where a church dedicated to this Saint was built in the 4th century. Saint Jean district with Saint Georges' and Saint Paul's districts form the quarter known as 'Vieux Lyon', one of the jewels of Lyon. In 1420, after the seizure of Lyon by the French monarchy, Lyon became a trading center thanks to the set up of free tax markets. For more than a century foreign bankers settled in the city, among them many Tuscan and Genoese. One of the offsprings of the most famous Florence dynasty, Marie de Medici, would meet here her future husband, Henri IV. They married in Saint-Jean Cathedral in 1600.

Théâtres Romains de Fourvière

The Théâtres Romains, a Roman theater-odeum-temple complex, is in a park south of the basilica in Lyon. Lyon's Roman theater is the oldest in France, built by order of Augustus from 17 to 15 BC and expanded during the reign of Hadrian. The odeum, reserved for musical performances, was once sumptuously decorated. Its orchestra floor still contains mosaics of marble and porphyry. The third building was a temple dedicated in 160 AD to the goddess Cybele, or Sibella. Only the building's foundations remain.

Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules

This amphitheater derives its name from ancient Lyon's role as the capital of the Three Gauls (Lugdunensis, Belgica, and Aquitania), three regions of Roman France. At the time of its construction around 19 BC, the Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules was the centerpiece of Condate, a Gallic village that predated the arrival of the Romans by centuries. It would have had room for 20,000 people at one time. Various accounts have members of Gallic tribes meeting here in the earliest example of a parliamentary system. Based on that information, France's 2,000th anniversary was celebrated in Lyon in 1989.

Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière

The beautiful Fourvière Basilica sits at the top of the Fourvière Hill. The name of this hill may come from the first inhabitants of the mountain: the Romans -- who called the hill Forum Vetus. The Fourvière Basilica is pretty modern. It was built in the 19th century by the architect Bossan. Because of its 4 octagonal towers the basilica is also known as the "upside-down elephant" --I wonder if the side that faces the city is the head or the bottom of the elephant ...

Place Saint-Jean

Walking along the streets of 'Vieux Lyon' you get to the 'Place Saint Jean', where the beautiful Saint Jean Church sits. This church was built between 1180 and 1480, and reflects the transition from Romanesque to Gothic in Old Europe. We will later take a look at this nice church from the other side of the river. In the square in front of the church once every year there is a pottery fair. I was fortunately enough to be here on this day, in mid September. The fair spreads along the adjacent streets.

Passerelle du Palais de Justice

Two big rivers converge in Lyon. The smallest one is the Saone River -- the one in the photo. The biggest one is the Rohne. To the west of the Saone river -- on the left -- sits 'Vieux Lyon' and the Fourviere Hill. Between the two rivers -- on the right -- is the 'centre
ville', with the old Terraux neighborhood, Place Bellecour and the Perrache train station. To the east of the Rohne sits Part Dieu District and most of the city's neighborhoods.

Park of Hauteurs

The 'Parc des Hauteurs' is one of the city's main parks. The two other big parks in Lyon are the Gerland park and the wonderful 'Tête d'Or Park'. Later we will visit this latter park.

Two of the things that I would like to highlight of this park are the Rosaire Garden and a walkway that crosses the park. From this walkway there is a nice view of the city, as you can see in this photo Before we leave the Fourviere Hill, we will take a look at the Roman Theaters.

To get there, you have to take the funicular down to 'Vieux Lyon' metro station and take the other funicular up to 'Place des Minimes' ...

Place des Celestins

The Célestins Theater is one of the oldest theaters in France. Only the Comédie Française and the Odeon have been longer active. The Celestins theater was founded in 1792, exclusively dedicated to dramas and popular comedies. Some of the most famous plays by Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas where performed here.

The theater underwent a serious crisis at the end of the 19th century, but it recovered with Moncharmont's direction, who was in charge of the theater for more than three decades. Since then, this theater has become one of the most famous in France. Currently the theater is more popular than ever, and new and classical works are performed regularly.

Place des Terreaux

Place des Terreaux is considered the center of the town. Several bars and cafes give life to this square. The square was built in the 17th century, to host the public executions and a pig trade market --I guess that these events used to take place on different days.

Recently the square has been renovated. 69 mini water and light fountains were added and the fountain you see in the picture was moved from its original location.

The fountain is a work of A. Bartholdi, the creator of the Statue of Liberty in New York, from 1892. It is highly recommended to come here by night, to enjoy the light effects of theese new fountains in the middle of the square.

Place Louis Pradel 1

The Place Louis Pradel is a modern open space next to the Opera House. The square is dedicated to Louis Pradel, Mayor of Lyon during the 1950's. Not far from this square, in Place des Terreaux, sits one of the biggest museums in France: Lyon's Museum of Fine Arts. This museum offers a vast collection of works of art from ancient Greece and Egypt to the present. Works of the most famous artists of all times --Veronese, Rubens, Delacroix, Monet, Gauguin-- can be found in its halls

Opera de Lyon

In this photo you can see the beautiful building of the National Opera House of Layon. This strange building is the result of the recent restoration works. The four facades were respected, but nothing else. Eleven new levels were added, five underground and six
under the new glass dome. 1,200 spectators can enjoy the excellent acoustic of its main hall, while state of the art computer programs control the light effects.