The major attraction for tourists is the old town, which is the most extensive grouping of 15th-century and Renaissance buildings in France. A visit to the St. Jean Cathedral, and a walk through the narrow streets past artisans’ workshops in old Gothic doorways and medieval courtyards yield a new discovery every few yards. The old town is crisscrossed with more than 100 covered passageways, called traboules, which give access from one street to another and pass through courtyards and old buildings.

Take the cable car to the top of the hill dominating the old town and enjoy the basilica and a fabulous view over Lyon. The Greco-Roman Museum houses antiquities such as inscribed Roman tablets, a Gaulish calendar and beautiful mosaics.

The marionette, or string-controlled puppet, was created in Lyon. Today, Guignol et Madelon—the French equivalent of Punch and Judy—still perform and poke fun at national and local politics.

Lyon is one of the gourmet centers of France. A meal in one of the city’s leading restaurants will be an experience you will savor for some time.