Bordering Lyon, and located in the metropolis, the city of Villeurbanne has an ideal position for exploring the wonders of the Rhone-Alpes region. She who was once the Roman Villa Urbana still retains considerable independence despite its proximity to the regional capital. Centric culture, the city carefully preserves its important heritage and presents visitors with beautiful treasures.
Located just east of the famous Parc de la Tête d'Or, Villeurbanne is a green lung in the area offering, in addition to its monuments and other buildings, an important natural heritage that make the charm of the city.
How to resist this city that has taken a major boom from the early twentieth century, highlighting its strengths and offering numerous interesting events? Architecture, music, film, history... everything is done to attract visitors and allow them to discover the charms of deep Villeurbanne.
The city that saw the champion Laure Manaudou has more than one trick up his sleeve to make visitors eager to enjoy a good holiday.
Juxtaposed with Lyon, but proud of its independence, Villeurbanne offers looks a heritage of great interest and all styles.
The Church of St. Athanasius is today the oldest building in the city of Villeurbanne. Originally, the monument was a simple chapel built in 800 by the boatmen of the Rhone. Long under the patronage of Saint-Julien Cusset, the parish church of the sixteenth century is now currently used by Uniate, Ukrainian Catholics of Byzantine rite. Today we can admire an ancient religious heritage, as a beautiful Virgin in gilded wood, or Ukrainian with interesting colorful icons.
Built in 1835, the Church of the Nativity is the place Grandclément, imposing its classical and sober architecture. Its pale yellow facade, simple and harmonious, is not representative of the building where the furniture and other objects of interest abound. Note also the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, dating from 1842 and situated not far from the ancient castle of Ferrandière now destroyed.
Listed historical monument for some of its parts, the Villa Lafont is a reinforced concrete building dating from 1930 and built by engineer Leon Lelièvre for a family of industrialists of the city. His style blends tradition and Italian Art Nouveau to a surprising result. The interior was designed in the style of the villas of Pompeii, including numerous works by Italian artists. One can also admire beautiful stained glass windows signed by master glassmakers, like this window inspired by L'enfant et les sortilèges Colette.
In the city center, it is possible to admire the Villeurbanne skyscraper, an architectural complex built between 1927 and 1934. It houses the first skyscraper built in France and now houses the National People's Theatre in the city.
Centric culture, Villeurbanne is the instigator of many events of all kinds which are spread throughout the year.
City Villeurbanne houses no less than six weekly markets in different neighborhoods: Tuesday and Thursday morning on the Place Grandclément, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings on the Place Chanoine Boursier, Wednesday and Saturday morning on Avenue Saint Exupery Wednesday and Friday mornings on the Place Wilson, Thursday and Saturday morning on the place Cross Luizet and Sunday morning on the avenue Roger Salengro.
In March, Reflections of Iberian and Latin American Cinema opened the cultural season of Villeurbanne presenting interesting and varied projections of various films.
The strides of Villeurbanne, a foot race, are held each year in March.
Youth book festival takes place in April. Founded in 2000, it helps to highlight children's literature with the presence of authors, illustrators and other specialized publishing houses.
Tips from Villeurbanne in May are the days of discovery of the local environment, offering gardening activities and the presentation of the actions of the city.
In mid-June, the festival takes place Prompts Villeurbanne. This is a street theater and music festival created in 2002 and takes place in Frappaz workshops.
A Doua The festival Jazz is held every year in October in Villeurbanne and around. Created in 1994, it consists of a festival ON and OFF of a summer with concerts, exhibitions, master classes or meetings with artists.
The short film festival in mid-November to discover a selection of interesting short films.
