Lyon is a city synonymous with the silk industry, the French Resistance and a reputation as the 'gastronomic capital of the world', and is located between the Rhone and the Saône rivers in the south west of France. Lyon is home to some of the finest restaurants and chefs in the country and forms the second largest metropolitan area in France after Paris.

This gastronomic wonder's culinary history came about in the first half of the 20th century when many bourgeois families fired their in-house cooks. These women went on to revolutionise Lyon's cuisine by setting up their own restaurants and cooking for some of the finest French dignitaries of their time.

Besides the many restaurants, bistros and cafés that entice people to this endearing city, Lyon boasts three large city parks, some 30 museums and countless monuments symbolising Lyon's development through the ages. It is home to the world famous Lyon Opera House, whose orchestra's reputation has travelled far beyond French borders.

UNESCO lists Lyon as a World Heritage site due to its rich and diverse 2,000-year-old history, evident in the awe-inspiring Romanesque architecture and medieval buildings in Old Lyon, including the Primatiale St-Jean cathedral, and the 16th-century Hôtel du Chamarier.

To the west, Fourviere Hill offers panoramic views of the city, and its own attractions include the Ancient Theatre of Fourvière, and the Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine.

By day Lyon can be viewed by boat on a trip down its rivers and at night dinner cruises add an element of fantasy to the city. Lyon is a city rich in food, history and culture, making it a hidden treasure in the French landscape and living up to its Roman name, Lugdunum, meaning 'the hill of light'.

Lyon National Opera House

Address: 1 Place de la Comédie Lyon

Telephone: 0826 305 325

Historical Museum of Lyon and International Puppet Museum

Address: 1 Place du Petit College Lyon

Admission: EUR6 (adult), children under 18 free. Combo ticket for both museums EUR8. Wednesday to Sunday 11am-6:30pm.

Telephone: (0)4 7842 0361

Ancient Theatre of Fourvière

Address: 6 rue de l'Antiquaille, Montée de Fourvière Lyon

Admission: Free Daily 7am-7pm

Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine

Address: 17 rue Cléberg Lyon

Admission: EUR4, concessions available. Free on Thursdays. Tuesday to Sunday 10am-6pm.

Telephone: (0)4 7238 49 30

Chez Mounier

Address: 3 rue des Marronniers Lyon

Food Type: French

Brasserie Georges

Address: 30 cours de Verdun Lyon

Food Type: French

L'Auberge de l'Ile

Address: Place Notre Dame, Île Barbe Lyon

Food Type: French