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Olympique Lyonnais (or Lyon) is a French football club based in Lyon.
They play in Ligue 1 and are the reigning champions of France. They have won the Ligue 1 title seven years straight, a record that no other club in France has matched. Lyon have won seven Trophées des Champions, four Coupe de France, three Ligue 2 Championships as well as seven participations in the UEFA Champions League, despite not taking part in a final, or a semi-final. Olympique Lyonnais play their home matches at the 41,044-seat Stade de Gerland, Lyon. Olympique Lyonnais were also a member of the G14 group of leading European football clubs. Lyon was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians but was nationally established as a club on 3 August 1950.
Olympique Lyonnais have dominated the top French level, Ligue 1, in the early years of the 21st century. After their second-place finish in 2001, Olympique Lyonnais have won seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles (2002-2008), becoming the first club in French history to do so. Lyon's European ambitions have meanwhile never been realised beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions League, however.
Lyon has a healthy rivalry with fellow side Saint-Étienne, the derby, often referred to as the Derby du Rhône (Rhône derby), between these two neighbouring Arpitan cities, the "rich and the workers'", "the newly most successful French club and the former biggest French club", is one of the highlights in Ligue 1. Monaco, Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain have been Lyon's secondary rivals, and in recent years LOSC Lille and Lens have posed threats.
Lyon International airport is located 20 km (12 mi) to the east of Lyon.
Taxi: Taxis are available at the airport. Fares are displayed but there are extra charges; 1.60 Euro for the toll and extra for a forth passenger. Luggage, animals and driving conditions, such as snow will incur extra charges as well.
Bus: Satobus Tel:04 72 68 72 17, operates a service from the airport to Lyon city centre every twenty minutes from 6am to 11.20pm daily. A single fare costs 8.40 Euro and under the age of 25 you pay 6.20 Euro.
Rail: The High-Train Station is located near the terminals and high speed train go to many destinations in France. Tel: 08 36 35 35 35 for information.
LYON AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The TCL (French: Transports en Commun Lyonnais), Lyon's public transport system, consisting of metros, buses and trams, serves 62 communes of the Lyon agglomeration. The metro system has 4 lines, 39 stations and runs with a frequency of up to a metro every 2 minutes. The bus system consists of normal buses, trolleybuses and coaches for areas outside the centre, but which operate on the same ticketing scheme. There are three tram lines. T1 from Montrochet in the south to IUT-Feyssine in the north, Tram T2 from Perrache railway station in the southwest to Saint-Priest in the southeast, and Tram T3 from Part-Dieu to Meyzieu. There are also two funicular lines.
The public transit system is complemented by Vélo'v, a bicycle network providing a low cost and convenient bicycle hire service where bicycles can be hired and dropped off at any of 340 stations throughout the city. Borrowing a bicycle for less than 30 minutes is free.
City Centre to Stade de Garland
Bus: Line 32 to Etats-Unis Viviani (from the station Lyon Perrache). Get out at Gerland.
Metro: Line B (bleu) to Gerland (from the station Lyon Part-Dieu). Get out at Terminus.
TOURIST OFFICES Place Bellecour - BP 2254 69214 Lyon
BRITISH CONSULATE 35 Rue Du Faubourg St., Honore 75383, Paris. Tel:(1) 4266 9142
BANKING HOURS 0900-1630 Monday to Friday
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Basilica Notre Dame de Fourviere This fortress-like structure crowns the Fourviere Hill. Built in the 19th Century, the interior is decorated with mosaics to provide a contrast with the austere exterior.
Musee Fourviere Features a collection of sacred arts from the 16th to 19th Centuries. Also includes an audio-visual presentation of the architecture of the Basilica.
Musee Historique Features exhibits related to the 19th Century, with archeology, the trade guilds, decorative arts and a collection of puppets as highlights.
Musee de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine Artifacts from the period when France was known as Gaul and later ruled by the Romans are shown here. Lyon was historically known as Lugdunum.
Theatres Romaine One of the principal archeological sites in the city, this served as a theater for musical concerts and plays in Roman times, and is the oldest of its kind in France.
Place Bellecour The heart of the modern city has a statue of Louis XIV, surrounded by 18th Century buildings ringing the square.
Musee des Artes-Decoratif Furniture, musical instruments and other decorative pieces from the 17th and 18th Century are housed in the Lacroix-Laval Mansion.
Musee de Tissus An outstanding collection of fabrics spanning over 2,000 years of history, including local products from the 18th Century on, magnificent Persian carpets, a brocade for Marie Antoinette’s bedchamber and satin for Queen Victoria.
Hotel de Ville One of the finest City Halls in Europe, the Hotel for Lyon was built in 1746.
Musee des Beaux Artes This former Benedictine abbey is now home to an eclectic collection of ancient (Etruscan, Egyptian, Sumerian, Persian), renaissance-baroque (Veronese, tintoretto, Rubens) and modern art (Picasso).
Amphitheatre des Trois Gaules The site of a nascent Gaulish democracy, this historical site can only be viewed from the outside.
Musee Francais de l’Automobile Located outside Lyon town, the automobile museum was founded by the Premier of the province, Henri Malartre, in 1960, and boasts a collection of classic motor vehicles, including scooters and motorcycles.
BARS
Albion Public House, 12 rue Ste-Catherine, 1er; Mº Hôtel-de-Ville. English pub with draught beer and a good selection of whiskies, where you can play darts and billiards, and listen to live jazz, R&B or soul on Wed nights. Daily 5pm–3am; happy hour Mon–Thurs 5–8pm.
Café 203, 9 Rue du Garet, 1er; Mº Hôtel-de-Ville. Lively bar taking its name from the classic Peugeot parked out front. Cheap plats du jour at all hours. Daily 7–2am, closed Sun lunch.
Café Comptoir Chez Mimi, 68 rue St-Jean, 5e; Mº Vieux-Lyon. Tiny, convivial bistro which looks like it was decorated from a flea market, offering drinks, salads, and omlettes. Simple but good, if you can get a seat. Wed–Sat noon–1am; Sun noon–9pm.
b, 68 rue Mercière, 2e; Mº Cordeliers. Massive bar, decorated with memorabilia and modern art from the States, with cheap beer and food served until 1am. Live music Thurs–Sat with an accent on rock. Mon 5pm–1am, Tues & Wed noon–1am, Thurs noon–2am, Fri & Sat noon–3am;
L'Éspace Gerson, 1 Place Gerson, 5e; Mº Vieux-Lyon. Cool modern bar with frequent jazz and performance art, plus darts and billiards. €9–11 entry normally. Mon–Sat 8.30pm–midnight.
Fish, opposite 21 quai Augagneur, 3e; Mº Guillotière. One of Lyon's hippest night clubs, specializing in house. Admission €10, drinks €4.50 and up. Daily 10pm–5am; Thurs student night, Fri theme night and Sat garage.
Hot Club, 26 Rue du Lanterne, 1er Mº Hôtel-de-Ville. Jazz jam sessions and concerts of all varieties in a vaulted cellar. Tues–Sat 9pm–1am; closed July & Aug.
La Marquise, opposite 20 quai Augagneur, 3e; Mº Guillotière. Old barge with dance club below deck. DJs spin hip-hop, 70s funk and house. No cover, aside from special shows (€6). Wed–Sat 10pm–5am.
La Mi Graine, 11 place St-Paul, 5e; Mº Vieux-Lyon. Welcoming café with live music and/or DJs Thurs–Sat. Also serves meals. Open daily 11.30–3am.
Ninkasi, 267 rue Marcel Mérieux, 7e; Mº Gerland. Lyon's own microbrewery
RESTAURANTS AND CAFES
L'Amphitryon, 33 Rue St-Jean, 5e Mº Vieux-Lyon. Usually packed restaurant serving Lyonnais specialities; menus from €12. Service till midnight.
Café des Fédérations, 8 Rue du Major-Martin, Mº Hôtel-de-Ville. Typical bouchon serving the earthiest of Lyonnais specialities (marinated tripe, black pudding and fish quenelles) in an atmosphere to match: there's even sawdust on the floor. Menu at €18.50 lunchtimes, €23 dinner. Closed Sat, Sun & Aug.
Chabert et Fils, 11 Rue des Marronniers, 2e Mº Bellecour. Bouchon offering the ubiquitous quenelle and andouillette (offal sausage) specialties, along with other first-rate dishes. Good quality for the price. Menus from €16–27.
Chez Léon Halles de la Part-Dieu, 102 Cours Lafayette, Mº Part-Dieu. Bar and restaurant in the market halls, whose specialities include seafood and snails. Around €25 for a good-sized meal. Closed May–Aug.
Léon de Lyon, 1 Rue Pléney, 1er Mº Hôtel-de-Ville. Sophisticated and delicious eating, with original culinary creations as well as traditional Lyonnais recipes in this upmarket brasserie. Menus from €96, but there's a lunch menu for €55. Closed three weeks in Aug.
La Mère Brazier, 12 Rue Royale, 1er Mº Croix-Paquet. A beautiful setting complements the excellent food, like Bresse chicken, artichoke hearts on foie gras and truffle crêpes – but it's very expensive. From €46, but you can easily spend twice as much. Closed Sun, Sat lunch & Aug.
La Meunière, 11 Rue Neuve, 1er Mº Hôtel-de-Ville. Booking is essential in this excellent bouchon, but it's worth it for the €25 menu of course after course of Lyonnais specialities. Other menus start at €20. Closed Sun, Mon & mid-July–mid-Aug.
Paul Bocuse, 40 Rue de la Plage, Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, Lyon's most famous restaurant, named after its celebrity chef-owner, is 9km north of the city, on the west bank of the Saône. Traditional French gastronomy is the bill of fare, with stunning crême brûlée and baba au rhum. €85 upwards.
Le Petit Glouton, 56 Rue St-Jean, 5e Mº Vieux-Lyon. A small but airy and unpretentious bistro in the heart of Vieux-Lyon. You can dine inside or on the small street-side terrace for under €13.
La Tour Rose, 22 Rue Boeuf, 5e Mº Vieux-Lyon. Gastronomic palace with concoctions like asparagus with an oyster mousse or salad of lobster and spinach with a creamed truffle sauce. From €32. Closed Sun. Worth peeking at is the actual Tour Rose (the tower of a small Renaissance house), in the courtyard next door at nearby no.16.
Club Information
