Lyon is the capital of freemasonry and esoterics, the city with the ideal model of night lighting that has already been adopted in Marrakesh, Havana and St. Petersburg. This commercial, industrial and economic center of the country is flourishing for more than 500 years; that’s why Lyon and its two million inhabitants are considered to be the second largest French metropolitan area.
Lyon is a city of outstanding art museums, vibrant cultural life, clubs and “alcohol” , not to mention a prosperous university and fantastic shopping. Green parks, charming promenades and the historic center of the city are the jewels of Lyon that have taken a worthy place in the list of UNESCO Heritage. Finally, even adventurous foodies can turn all of their wild fantasies and wishes in true by visiting vanguard, piquant and luxurious restaurants of Lyon.
Lyon International Airport, located in 25 kilometers apart of the center receives flights from major European cities but not from Russia. From Moscow, St. Petersburg and other major Russian cities it easier to fly to Paris and then transfer to Lyon via a domestic flight.
The city has two main railway stations: Gare de la Part-Dieu (or just Part-Dieu) which is 1.5 km to the east of the Rhone and takes trains of far destination; and the Gare de Perrache (or Perrache), a where both local trains and long-distance trains stop at the same frequency. A small number of trains stop at the train station of Gare St-Paul in the old center of town. Tickets are available at all three stations in the city center, in the SNCF Boutique Office (2 place Bellecour, 2e; 9 am -6:45 pm Mon-Fri; 10 am -6:30 pm, Sat).
You can reach Lyon on a high-speed TGV train from Paris Gare de Lyon (EUR 60.00-80.00 for 2 hours, departures every 30-60 minutes), from Lille (EUR 70.00-80.00 for 3 hours and 15 minutes), Nantes (EUR 70.00 for 4 hours 15 minutes), Beaune (EUR 20.00-25.00 for 2 hours and 15 minutes), Dijon (EUR 20.00-30.00 for 2 hours 45 minutes) and Strasbourg (EUR 45.00-50.00 for 5 hours and 15 minutes).
The city also has a major bus station taking various well-known bus trips companies such as Eurolines, Intercars and Linebús (mostly from Spain) from all over France.
The historical part of Lyon – the Old Town – is located along the banks of Saone.
Presqu’ile (Presquile) is a peninsula in the heart of Lyon situated at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone rivers. The City Hall, Place Bellecour, streets with boutiques, restaurants and bars, opera, Theater Celestin, museums as well as the Place des Terreaux with a fountain sculptured by famous Bartholdi are located.
Street and quarter of Saint-Jean situated near the Place du Change (“the square of moneychangers”) are one of the most visited places in Lyon. The name of the street is given in the honor of John the Baptist. It ends in front of the St. John Cathedral.
The Place du gouvernement is one of the most beautiful places in Lyon. It is surrounded by the old four-storey houses near the government building. The area has a rectangular shape paved with cobblestones with a charming tree growing in the centre of the square
Mercier Street which is also located in the heart of Lyon is divided into two extremely different parts. Southern part is a pedestrian zone, which attracts travelers with numerous restaurants, bars and Renaissance houses.
