Vienne and its surroundings
2500 years of history
Vienne, a city of history, has added jazz to its heritage and has its ancient ruins vibrate to the sound of the greatest international artists
Running since the summer of 1981, the festival Jazzavienne is the first cultural event in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. This UNESCO World Heritage classified city welcomes two weeks of concerts, exhibitions and events each year. Jazz artists, in all its forms, along with blues, soul, funk and other world musicians gather for a program that brings together 1,000 artists on 4 stages.
Close to 200 000 festival-goers meet near the sculpted arcades of the Cybele Garden, cross the tiers of the Ancient Theatre from Vienne, then again cross the Rhone to dream in front of the mosaics and ancient relics gathered in the Roman Museum of Saint-Romain-en-Gal. Of course many also take the opportunity to savor the great wines of Condrieu, Côte-Rotie and Saint Joseph.
Outside this special musical time of the year, visiting Vienna remains a major attraction for those who want to soak up the history of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The Roman period left a vast Archaeological site, Saint-Romain-en-Gal-Vienna, as well as the Pyramid and the Livia Temple. The medieval period, which transformed Vienna to a holy city built on the ruins of an empire also left with it a set of remarkable monuments. These includee: the St. Maurice Cathedral, the church and the Cloister of Saint-Andre and the Castle of the building. Labeled a City of Art and history, Vienna has 40 monuments or protected sites plus five complementary museums and a multitude of events to reflect its grandeur and the liveliness of its cultural life both yesterday and today.
Lyon
From the Roman civilization to the great times of the silk and textiles industries. From our local Guignol to all the other puppets in the world. From the printing industry to the invention of cinema, and on through the historical account of the French Résistance, and from the Fine Arts to the Decorative Arts… the list goes on.
Immerse yourself in the history and heritage of Lyon. The museums and their exhibitions can be visited by those purchasing a Lyon City Card.
And the city’s museums (and others besides!) also host numerous debates, conferences and artistic and cultural events.
And if you enjoy strolling in artistic surrounding, why not explore the art galleries: who knows you may fall In love with a special something or simply enjoy the pleasure of discovering new things…
Each year, in September, Lyon marks a great entry on the cultural calendar, with the Dance biennial, alternating with the Biennial of Contemporary Art.
This Is followed by the Festival of Lights. Deeply rooted in the history of Lyon, which is said to have been under the Virgin Mary’s protection for two centuries, The Festival of Lights is now recognized as a unique event in Europe.
Putting the spotlight on Lyon for the 2019 Festival of Lights, from the 5th to the 8th of December 2019!
4 nights to shine!
If there is one event that really represents the best of Lyon, it surely is the Festival of Lights (Fête des Lumières)!
From the tradional lumignons (small candles) which locals place on their balconies, to the variety of visual and interactive shows around the city, the 8th of December is an absolute ‘must see’ for anybody looking to discover Lyon. The Festival of Lights will once again be a major highlight and is not to be missed!
Each year, in the creative hub that is Lyon, lighting designers are invited to create their installations. These are then exported around the world.
As for the Biennale of Design it will take place in Saint-Etienne from March 21st to April 22nd 2019