Fourvière : Overlooking the west of the city, Fourvière, "the hill that prays", became the site for Lugdunum, capital of Roman Gaul, in 43 AD. A place of worship honouring the Virgin Mary as protector of the city was established there after the Great Plague of 1643, the famous basilica following in the 19th century. The panoramic view from the esplanade takes in the entire history of the city. Together the 3 hectares of vestiges and the Museum of Gallo-Roman Civilization make up an archaeological which is unique in France.

Vieux Lyon (the old town) : Spread along the Saône at the foot of the Fourvière hill, Vieux Lyon is, with the sole exception of Venice, the largest corpus of Renaissance buildings in Europe in Europe. Its monasteries, palatial mansions and hanging gardens are reminiscent of the beauties of Florence. But this is also a living neighbourhood with art shops, museums, cafe terraces and those Lyon restaurants, the Bouchons.