Fun facts about Lyon
We selected a few interesting stories about the city and the people of Lyon.
Lyon (Lugdunum) was the capital of Gaule (France) for more than 300 years
Two Roman emperors were born here. Signs of the Roman presence can still be found throughout the city, including the Amphitheatre of Fourvière.
In 1895, the Lumière brothers invented film-making in Lyon
The very premises where they shot their first films are still up and running and can be visited.
The Parc de la Tête d’Or was created the same year as Central Park in NYC
The “Lung of Lyon” hosts one of the biggest botanical gardens in the world with 16,000 species of plants, a roseraie, a lake, and an open zoo.
Three of the first 3-stars Michelin restaurants were less than 30 min away from Lyon
During the first edition of the Michelin restaurant guide delivering awards, 3 stars were given to 5 restaurants. Among them, 3 were female chefs living in Lyon or less than 30 km away from Lyon.
Lyon is part of the UNESCO’s World Heritage
More than 5 km² of land is protected by UNESCO, over 4 different sites, from 4 complete different periods: The Gallo-Roman age, Renaissance age, Industrial age and the XIXe century. Those 4 sites are all close together.
The Petit Prince’s father, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, is born in Lyon
This book is the 4th most translated book in the World. This illustration, as well as all the others in the original book, was drawn by Saint-Exupéry himself.
