Lyon

Climate

Lyon has a "semi-continental" climate. Winters are cold but temperatures under -5°C 23°F remain rare. You can, however, experience an awful freezing sensation when northerly winds blow. Snowfalls happen but snow-covered streets are generally not seen for more than a few days every winter. Summers can be hot; temperatures around 35°C 95°F are not exceptional in July and August. Precipitations are moderate and happen throughout the year; the mountains to the west Massif central protect the area against perturbations from the Atlantic. During the summer, especially in August, precipitations often take the form of thunderstorms whereas in winter, lighter but more continuous rain is more common. Spring and early autumn are usually enjoyable.

Smoking

As everywhere in France, smoking is prohibited in all closed public places, including bars, restaurants and night clubs.

Events

The Festival of Lights Fête des Lumières (http://www.lumieres.lyon....) is by far the most important event of the year. It lasts four days around the 8th of December. It was initially a traditional religious celebration: on December 8th, 1852, the people of Lyon spontaneously illuminated their windows with candles to celebrate the inauguration of the golden statue of the Virgin Mary the Virgin had been the saint patron of Lyon since she allegedly saved the city from the plague in 1643. The same ritual was then repeated every year.In the last decade or so, the celebration turned into an international event, with light shows by professional artists from all over the world. Those range from tiny installations in remote neighbourhoods to massive sound-and-light shows, the largest one traditionally taking place on Place des Terreaux. The traditional celebration lives on, though: during the weeks preceding December 8th, the traditional candles and glasses are sold by shops all over town. This festival attracts around 4 million visitors every year; it now compares, in terms of attendance, to the Oktoberfest in Munich for example. Needless to say, accommodation for this period should be booked months in advance. You will also need good shoes to avoid the crowd in the metro and very warm clothes it can be very cold at this time of year.

The Nuits de Fourvière festival (http://www.nuitsdefourvie...): From June to early August, the Roman theatres host various shows such as concerts popular music, jazz, classical, dancing, theatre and cinema. International artists who usually fill up much larger venues are often seduced by the special atmosphere of the theatres.

Nuits sonores

(http://www.nuits-sonores.com/): an increasingly popular festival dedicated to electronic music, every year in May.

The Biennals (http://www.biennale-de-ly...): Lyon alternatively hosts a dancing even years and a contemporary art odd years biennals from September to December/January. The dancing biennal is traditionally opened by a street parade in which inhabitants of the Greater Lyon take part through neighbourhood associations. If you are in town at this moment, do not miss this colourful and funny event.

Politics

A city of merchants and industry, Lyon has a long tradition of centre-right governments and mayors, even if some neighbourhoods, most notably Croix-Rousse, have a very strong left-wing inclination. In 2001, however, Gérard Collomb, a member of the moderate left-wing Socialist party, was elected mayor. Although many controversies surrounded Collomb, he adopted a strategy of creating public infrastructure projects to gain popularity.

Understand

Founded by the Romans, with many preserved historical areas, Lyon is the archetype of the heritage city, as recognised by UNESCO. Lyon is a vibrant metropolis which starts to make the most out of its unique architectural, cultural and gastronomic heritage, its dynamic demographics and economy and its strategic location between Northern and Southern Europe. It is more and more open to the world, with an increasing number of students and international events.

The city itself has about 470,000 inhabitants. However, the direct influence of the city extends well over its administrative borders. The figure which should be compared to the population of other major metropolises is the population of Greater Lyon which includes 57 towns or communes: about 1,200,000. Lyon and its metropolitan area are rapidly growing and getting younger, because of their economic attractiveness.

Economy

The silk industry was the main activity for centuries. Since the end of the 19th century, it has been successfully replaced by a number of others. Feyzin, a southern suburb, is home to a major oil refinery and a large number of chemical plants are also located along the Rhône river south of Lyon. Pharmaceutics and biotechnology are also important; they were historically fueled by Lyon's prominence in medical research, and the local authorities are trying to maintain an international leadership in these industries. The southeastern suburbs of Vénissieux and St Priest host large automotive plants, such as Renault's truck and bus factories. But as in most Western metropolises, the service industry is now dominant. Many large banking and insurance companies have important offices in Lyon, and the IT services industry is also well developed. From an economic point of view, Lyon is the most attractive and dynamic city in France. This may be explained by the easy access from all over Europe probably second only to Paris in the country, the availability of qualified workforce and research centres, and cheaper real estate prices compared to the capital.

Language

The language of the city is French. The local dialect patois, basically French with a number of typical local words or expressions has practically disappeared since one out of two inhabitants were born outside the Rhône département.

Hotels, tourist attractions and restaurants in popular areas generally have staff capable of working in English. You could, however, experience difficulties in more remote areas. The transportation system also has little information written in English. On the street, many people especially young people speak at least basic English, but they will appreciate a little effort in French. Using basic words like bonjour hello, s'il vous plaît please, merci thank you or excusez-moi excuse me will certainly make people even more friendly and willing to help you.

The only measurement system used is the metric system. Most French people have no idea what Imperial units mean.