Lyon City Town Guide At the junction of the Saône and Rhône rivers, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Lyon is a harmonious blend of Gallo-Roman remains, Italian influences, traditional industries and old-fashioned prestige. Behind its reserved appearance, the city offers some of France's most diverse cultural life, and, in addition to its many ambitious modern achievements, it also maintains a famed tradition of gastronomy. Five ideas for discovering another side to the city -  After visiting the Maison des Canuts to watch silk manufacturers at work, take in some of the tapestry and decoration museums, housed in imposing private residences. -  Listen to superb tenors and sopranos during a night at the National Opera, now completely renovated, inside the shell of the former theatre, by Jean Nouvel. -  Take a walk among the big cats and roses of the Tête d'Or park, featuring 114 hectares of landscaped parkland as well as one of France's finest zoos. Admission is free. -  Go and watch a rare film, projected at the Institut Lumière, the actual home of the Lumière brothers, the inventors of cinema. -  Take a stroll along rue Auguste-Comte, where you'll find antique dealers and fashion boutiques side-by-side. Make sure to see the Galerie Teissier, one of the triumphs of Lyonnais design. Time difference In France, summer time is set at GMT + two hours, and runs from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October. To call Lyon Dial the internatinal code followed by 33 for France, then 4 for Lyon and the 8 digits of the person you are calling. Climate Average temperatures by season: - Spring: 15° C - Summer: 21° C - Autumn: 16° C - Winter: 7° C Holidays These holidays are celebrated throughout France: - 1 January: New Year - Easter Monday (date varies) - 1 May: Labour Day - 8 May: 1945 Victory Day - Ascension (date varies) - Pentecost (date varies) - 14 July: National Day - 15 August: Assumption - 1 November: All Saints Day - 11 November: Armistice Day - 25 December: Christmas Getting around Walking from quay to quay is the best way to explore Lyon's downtown area, between the Saône and Rhône rivers. The city's buses, tramways and four subway lines offer a very good public transport system. The Liberté pass provides unrestricted, all-day access to the entire system (it's also good for the Fourvière cableway). Two trolley buses (an original mix of a tramway and bus) still serve la Croix-Rousse. Lyon Tourism Office Lyon Tourism Office: Place Bellecour 69002 Lyon, France Tel: (international n° +33) 4 72 77 69 69 Lyon on the Web http://www.mairie-lyon.fr See our Cultural calendar Back