Lyon - France 2014 - page 1361

The artifacts you'll see were foundlocally.The unusual bronze chariot dates from the sev-
enth century B.C. In the next section, the model of Roman Lyon shows a city of 50,000
in its second-century A.D. glory days. Gauls and Romans lived and worked side-by-side
in Roman Lyon. Notice that the forum stands where the basilica does today, hanging on
thecliffedge.Findthearenaintoday'sCroix-Rousseneighborhood(you'llseethearena's
ruinsifyoufollowmywalkingrouteofthatarea).Lookforthewhitebitsofaqueductsec-
tions (with photos of the actual ruins nearby), the network of gray roads leading to Lyon,
and the floating bridges across the rivers. The stone Roman pump behind the city model
looks like an engine block (read the explanation to find out how it worked).
Those curved stones you pass next were actual seats in an arena—inscribed with the
names of big shots who sat there. Soon after, look for a big, black-bronze tablet placed
up high. Carved into it is the transcription of a speech given by Emperor Claudius in A.D.
48—his(longwinded)accountofhowheintegratedtheGaulsintotheempirebydeclaring
them eligible to sit in the Roman Senate (also recorded: the interjections of senators beg-
ging him to get to the point already—see the English translation on the wall).
Lyon at a Glance
▲▲ Roman Theaters and Gallo - Roman Museum Fine museum covering Ro-
man Lyon. Hours: Museum—Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed Mon; theaters—daily
until 19:00. See here .
▲▲ Vieux Lyon The city's fascinating, traffic-free historic core, with intriguing
covered passageways. Hours: Passageways open daily 8:00-19:30. See here .
▲ Notre - Dame Basilica Lyon'sornateversionofParis'Sacré-Cœur. Hours: Daily
8:00-19:00; weekday Mass usually at either 7:15 or 9:30, then at 11:00 and 17:00;
Sun Mass at 7:30, 9:30, 11:00, and 17:00. See here .
▲ Museum of Fine Arts France's second-most-important fine-arts museum (after
the Louvre). Hours: Wed-Mon 10:00-18:00, Fri from 10:30, closed Tue. See here .
▲ Resistance and Deportation History Center Displays and videos telling the
inspirational story of the French Resistance. Hours: Wed-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed
Mon-Tue. See here .
▲ Lumière Museum Museum of film, dedicated to the Lumière brothers' pivotal
contribution. Hours: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:30, closed Mon. See here .