Lyon, the third largest city in southeastern France, the capital of the Auvergne-Rh?ne-Alpes region and the capital of the Rh?ne department, established the "Lyon Metropolis" with partial provincial management powers in January 2015, also known as "Greater Lyon". Lyon is located at the confluence of the Rh?ne and Sa?ne rivers. Its main urban area can be roughly divided into three parts by the river: the Fourvière Hill on the west side, the old city on the peninsula between the two rivers, and the new city mainly concentrated in the east.

　　Lyon, a historic city in southeastern France, is world-famous for its profound cultural heritage, beautiful natural scenery and tempting cuisine. This city combines the ancient and the modern and is a paradise for travelers.

　　Main attractions:

　　1. Vieux Lyon

　　The heart and soul of life in town, Vieux Lyon is almost certainly one of the most beautiful historic quarters in Europe. Getting lost amidst its little cobbled lanes and hidden traboules is a magical way to spend the day before dining at one of the area’s traditional bouchon restaurants in the evening.

　　Mostly built between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, its hundreds of charming old buildings are packed tightly together in between both Fourviere hill and the Saone River. The wealthy Italian, German and Flemish merchants who settled here due to the silk trade commissioned elegant Gothic and Renaissance-style houses, many of which now contain little family-run bars, cafes and bakeries.

　　2. Fourviere Basilica

　　Dominating Lyon’s “Hill of Prayer,” the Fourvière, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière was built in the late 19th century from a design by architect Pierre Bossan.

　　he architecture of the church is unique in that it has both Byzantine and Romanesque styles. In addition to four corner towers rising over the structure, the basilica features a bell tower with a golden statue of the Virgin Mary.

　　The upper sanctuary of the church is ornamented with mosaics and stained glass. Visitors can take a funicular to the site from the metro station in Vieux Lyon or can climb the steep ascent to the summit of Fourviere Hill on foot.

　　3. Parc de la Tete d’Or

　　The largest urban park in France, the Parc de la Tete d’Or is a popular destination for families, joggers and cyclists.

　　Many of the park’s attractions are aimed towards children, including a carousel, a small zoo, a miniature train and a puppet theater, and there’s a variety of sports facilities on the grounds as well. A lake offers opportunities for boating, waterside picnics and scenic strolls along the shoreline.

　　For visitors, the highlight of the park is the Jardin Botanique de Lyon, which features picturesque 19th-century greenhouses filled with a wide range of tropical plants, including century-old camellias, carnivorous plants and water lilies from the Amazon.

　　4. Roman Theatre of Fourviere

　　The oldest Roman theatre in the whole of France, Lyon’s ancient amphitheatre was built between 17 and 15 BC on the side of Fourviere hill. In its heyday, 10,000 cheering spectators would cram onto its steep stone seats to watch dramatic games, theatre pieces and dance performances.

　　Remarkably well-preserved, the impressive old theatre was lost to time until being rediscovered and restored in the late nineteenth century. Nowadays, guests can marvel at its magnificent architecture and amble about the crumbling ruins of the cavea that used to continue even further up the hillside.

　　From the top of the theatre, you can enjoy fabulous views over the city and the stage area below. Before heading off, make sure to stop by the outstanding archaeological museum next to it for more info on Lyon’s Roman past. The fun Nuits de Fourviere cultural festival also takes place here each summer.

　　5. Place des Terreaux

　　With beginnings that date back to the 13th century, the Place des Terreaux located in the Presqu'ile district has long played an important role in Lyon’s history. Originally built as part of a walled fortification, the site was turned into a city plaza in the 1600s.

　　The site of many beheadings by guillotine during the French Revolution, the central square is today bordered by the Lyon City Hall to the east and the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon on the south. On the north side of the square is a fountain designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, creator of the Statue of Liberty.

　　6. Musee des Beaux-Arts de Lyon

　　Constructed from stones gathered from the tumbled walls that once stood on the site of Place des Terreaux, the massive Musee des Beaux-Arts de Lyon was once home to the convent of Saint-Pierre.

　　When the nuns were expelled from the city during the French Revolution, the Municipal Council established the building as a place to conserve the city’s cultural treasures.

　　Officially opened in 1803 and completely renovated during the 1990s, the museum today rivals the Louvre in volume and diversity, with collections that range from ancient Egyptian antiquities to 20th-century paintings by the likes of Matisse, Picasso, Braque and Miró.

　　7. Place Bellecour

　　A primary attraction of the Presqu'ile district located between the Sa?ne and the Rh?ne rivers, the Place Bellecour is the largest pedestrian square in Europe. The square’s massive size has made it the ideal site for local festivals, outdoor concerts and special events, and the recent addition of a large Ferris wheel adds to its appeal.

　　Several statues are worthy of attention as well, including an 19th-century sculpture of King Louis XIV seated on horseback, but it’s the plaza’s proximity to Lyon’s luxury shopping district that generates the most foot traffic. Four major streets lined with shops begin at the Place Bellecour.

　　8. Musee Miniature et Cinema

　　Asides from its silk and gastronomy, the city is also known for the huge role it played in the history of cinema. At the Musee Miniature et Cinema in Vieux Lyon, you can see cool film props, costumes and carefully recreated sets with excellent exhibits, and also look at special effects and miniature art.

　　Sprawling across three floors of the sixteenth-century Maison des Advocats, the private gallery was opened in 2005 by artist Dan Ohlmann. While some rooms focus on stop motion, animatronics and prosthetics, other levels contain full-size models from movies like Alien and Robocop.

　　Possibly the most fascinating part however are its 120 hyper-realistic dioramas that depict everyday life in shops, restaurants and homes either in Lyon or further afield. Painstakingly painted down to the last detail, you’ll find yourself examining these tiny scenes for much longer than you’d expect.

　　9. Musée des Confluences

　　One of the most unique and imaginative buildings we’ve seen in a long time, the spaceship-like Musée des Confluences lies right at the southern tip of Presqu’ile. Inside is just as thought-provoking as its four main exhibits cover the origins and meaning of life, different species and societies and various visions of the future.

　　Set at the spot where the Rhone and Saone rivers meet, the museum was unveiled in 2014 as part of a larger urban renewal plan for the former industrial area. Almost impossible to describe, it has been said to resemble ‘a floating crystal cloud of stainless steel and glass’ – just go and see it for yourself, you really won’t regret it!

　　Its extensive collections are also sure to have something that will interest everyone as millennia-old meteorites and Egyptian mummies are displayed alongside dinosaur skeletons, samurai armour and even classic cars.

　　10. Fresque des Lyonnais

　　Along with the Mur des Canuts, the Fresque des Lyonnais is one of the city’s biggest and best-loved public art pieces. Overlooking the tranquil Saone River, the enormous trompe-l’oeil painting depicts thirty famous people from throughout Lyon’s more than 2,000 years of history.

　　Painted in the mid-nineties by the CiteCreation cooperative of artists, the colourful work covers two windowless sides of a large building located not far from Place des Terreaux. Looking out from the mural’s balconies, windows and shop entrances are important figures such as Emperor Claudius, Le Petit Prince and, of course, the Lumiere brothers.

　　Very life-like, its saints, artists and entrepreneurs all make for some fantastic photos – just watch out when stepping back to take a picture as the road beside the building gets quite busy.