How to get to Lyon | How to get to the Convention Centre
" Lyon - with its two rivers, its Gallo-Roman ruins, its 300 Renaissance merchant houses and its gastronomic reputation - is special, even in a country like France... "
The New York Times - by E. Sciolino
Located at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, Lyon is about 90 minutes from Marseille and two hours from Paris by TGV. Surrounded by vineyards, France's second largest city is known for its "bouchon" bistros and host of starred restaurants. This capital of gastronomy is also a listed UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for the invention of the silk loom and as the birthplace of the inventors of cinema.
I Love Events
Identify yourself as a EUROECHO 2008 participant upon arrival at your hotel and ask for your I Love Events bracelet. With this bracelet you will receive an extra special welcome in partcipating restaurants, businesses, bars, clubs and hotels in Lyon identified by the I Love Events logo in their window. For more information visit the Hotel Accommodation desk in the Registration Area.
Don't miss!
Festival of Lights - four days of celebration! From 5 to 8 December 2008
Since December 8th, 1852, Lyon has enjoyed privileged relationships with light. Anyone wondering the town by night will notice the illumination that make the contours of the rivers stand out and cast their glow on the monumental frontages of the city's main buildings.
The "Festival of Lights" - in French "Fête des Lumières" - illuminates the city every December. Lighting experts from Lyon and elsewhere in Europe transform the town into a giant fresco of colour. From spectacular scenarios projected onto the façades of the main buildings to small artistic offerings installed in the pathways of La Croix Rouge or in the Old Town, the entire town is lit up and seems to vibrate beneath the gaze of some 3 million spectators. A chance for people to participate and interact, this huge event enables everyone to share thrills and emotion in all the neighbourhoods of the capital of the Gaul's, in a truly festive atmosphere.
"Fête des Lumières" official website: http://www.lumieres.lyon.fr/
Shopping in Lyon
Shopping in Lyon is an easy pleasure, part of the city’s art of living.
The Carré d’Or district will keep the most exacting shoppers happy with more than 70 luxury banners concentrated in an area where it is pleasant to stroll, between Place Bellecour and Cordeliers.
You will find one of the largest pedestrian thoroughfares in Europe, stretching across the entire Presqu’île, by Rue Victor Hugo and Rue de la République, where the majority of franchised stores can be found.
If you are looking for exotic purchases, the stores in Vieux Lyon offer a superb selection of traditional art and craft objects and textiles from around the world with the perfume of incense in the air.
The glass-roofed Part-Dieu retail centre is one of the largest in Europe, with its 260 shops and department stores (Galeries Lafayette…).
Gastronomy
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Make no mistake, Lyon is undeniably the capital of French gastronomy.
“Leave ingredients with the taste of what they are” – this is the secret of Lyon’s cuisine!
The city is a reference in culinary art thanks to its talented chefs, who combine tradition and creativity.
This know-how was built up over the years by the city’s women folk, notably the Mères lyonnaises in the 19th Century. Food fans can just as easily find a cosy auberge and its ham, bacon and pate washed down with a Beaujolais from the nearby vineyards or the more hushed tones of a five-star restaurant run by one of France’s internationally-renowned chefs, such as Bocuse, Lacombe, Orsi or Troisgros (at Roanne). |
Cultural Life
A city of culture and creation, Lyon and its surrounding area move to the rhythm of an intense artistic life. Local venues, groups and events like the Maison de la Danse (Dance Centre), the Opera House, the Lyon National Orchestra, the Biennial Dance Festival, the Biennial Contemporary Arts Festival, the Fine Arts Museum, the Gallo-Roman Museum and others all give spark to this dynamic arts scene.
The Institut Lumière in Lyon is a museum devoted to one of the most influential families in history - the Lumières, the inventors of cinema. Entitled Au Pays des Lumières (In the land of the Lumières), the exhibition attempts to transport visitors to the Lumière home and teach them all about the huge debt we owe the family.
Useful Links
City Useful Information
Banking
Bank services are available at the airport and throughout the city. 24-hours cash dispensers take most major credit cards. Standard banking hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30/9:00 to 16:00/17:30. Certain branches open on Saturday mornings.
Climate and Clothing
Enfolded deep in the Rhone valley, Lyon has a continental climate, characterised by four seasons: hot summer, mild autumn, cold winter and a bountiful spring.
Winters are cold and humid - Lyon is subject to fog and mist December through February as the humidity gets caught in the Rhône Valley.
But then again, Lyon's cuisine offers some warming dishes that can make you feel better in a jiff!Average temperatures in December: between 1°C and 9°C
Currency
The monatary unit in France is Euro (€).
Electricity
In France, electricity is supplied at 220-240v/50Hz and power sockets are of 2 round pins type.
Time Zone
France is in the Central European Time Zone.
Central European Standard Time (CET) is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1).
Facts and Figures
Lyon is the 3rd largest city in France and the 2nd biggest University City.
| Population: |
470,000 |
| Agglomeration: |
2,100,000 |
| Students: |
100,000 |
| Universities: |
4 |
| Department: |
Rhône |
| Region: |
Rhône-Alpes |