The Perks of Living in Lyon

We’ve put together some quick facts about life in Lyon for those who are researching business schools, and considering EMLYON Business School.

The city is in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. It is set along the banks of the two rivers, the Rhone and the Saône. Historically, the city is known for its architectural landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Lyon was an important area for the production and weaving of silk and in modern times has developed a reputation as the capital of gastronomy in France.

The city also played a significant role in the history of cinema due to Auguste and Louis Lumière who invented the cinematographe in Lyon. It's also famous for its light festival, 'Fete des Lumieres', which occurs in the month of December and lasts for four days.

If you're gearing up to explore Europe and its culture then Lyon is a great place to be located. It's surrounded by some of the finest vineyards in France – Burgundy, Côtes du Rhône and Beaujolais, and is less than two hours from Europe’s highest mountains.

The Alps, the world’s most popular skiing destination, are less than 90 minutes away, and the Mediterranean coast is about three hours away. Regular high-speed train links put it just two hours from Paris and its international airport makes Lyon a European air transport hub.

Whether it’s food, culture or leisure activities, Lyon offers the good things in life. The city is renowned for its great cuisine, from its 15 Michelin-starred restaurants to its famous “bouchon” bistros, as well as international cuisine.

Arts lovers have their pick of venues, from electronic music to opera, jazz, theatre and contemporary dance, as well as a host of museums.

Sports fans can watch some of France’s leading teams, including the Olympique Lyonnais football club and the ASVEL basketball club. And if you just want to relax, the Parc de la Tête d’Or is one of Europe’s biggest city parks, or you can visit the city on the self-service Velov’ bicycles.

A sneak peek at what's on in Lyon this weekend shows that you can take part in an Argentine Tango Ball with an introductory session, visit the Illustrated History of the Lyon Courthouse exhibition, attend the Tout l'Monde music festival, check out the Portraits in Literature exhibition, or the Carte blanche to Delphine Balley exhibition.

The EMLYON European campus is set in six acres of wooded parkland located only ten minutes from the centre of Lyon; just the right distance to take advantage of the city's excitement!

Lyon also happens to be a city which attracts a growing number of companies. It now boasts approximately 900 foreign-owned companies and 82 headquarters and administrative offices of companies with over 1,000 employees.

Thousands of new businesses launch in France's second city each year and local authorities provide support to 20,000 new business projects every year. EMLYON is proud of its entrepreneurial MBA and the EMLYON Incubateur grants access to mentors, networks and increased visibility for start-ups that students can take advantage of.

Read more about students, alumni and programs at EMLYON Business School here