Discover Lyon, the vibrant host city of the 47th WorldSkills Competition

Lyon will soon host the 47th WorldSkills Competition. Over the years, the city has become a popular tourist destination due to a high quality of life and a rich culture. From gastronomy to cinema, here is what to know about the third-largest French city.

The historic city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Thanks to its splendid architecture, a part of the old historic centre of Lyon has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998. This prestigious recognition demonstrates the quality and beauty of the city which attracts millions of tourists every year. The Fourvière Basilica, one of Lyon’s most emblematic monuments, is an architectural masterpiece that sits atop the city and offers astonishing views of Lyon. It’s a necessary detour if you come to the WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Competition.

Lyon is the birthplace of cinema

Lyon is the city where the famous Lumière brothers invented cinematography and filmed the first movie ever La Sortie des ouvriers de l’usine, in 1895. The Lumière Museum, located in the Monplaisir neighborhood, displays the brothers’ discoveries, and pays tribute to their life in what used to be their family home. The Lumière Film Festival, one of Lyon’s most popular events, takes place every year to celebrate cinema, with famous previous guests such as Tim Burton, Martin Scorsese, Jane Fonda, Quentin Tarantino, and Jane Campion.

It is one of the world’s best capitals of gastronomy

The city of Lyon is one of the most popular capitals of French gastronomy. It combines rich, traditional, and unique cuisine. The “Bouchons” are popular traditional restaurants that serve most of the city’s specialties and local meals. One of the most famous figures in Lyon is chef Paul Bocuse, who created a French gastronomy empire, and gave his name to “Les Halles Paul Bocuse”, a renowned food market in the city.

Art and culture are everywhere

The Lyon area is home to various museums, artistic institutions, and cultural facilities. It also hosts eclectic cultural and artistic events such as the Festival of Lights, a popular annual celebration where the city’s façades, streets, and squares welcome colourful light installations created by local and international visual artists, lighting designers, and other technicians and lighting professionals.

The National Opera of Lyon, the Lyon Auditorium, and the Celestins Theatre also are must-see places within the inner city.