Paris, we can all agree, has a lot going for it. It has splendid museums, grand avenues, a famous pointy tower and thousands of cafes where you can order a minuscule coffee for a fairly large amount of money. But Lyon is a supremely qualified rival. In Lyon, a hearty serving of tradition Smaller it may be, but France's second city has a sophistication that makes it a hugely intriguing option for visitors. While the following suggestions may cause rioting (or, at least, mild shrugs of indifference) along the Champs-Elysees, there are a number of ways Lyon outshines the French capital.
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Lyon is France's "second city" but it leads the way in a number of cultural categories
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Paris has Notre Dame but Lyon's Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere is more beautiful
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Paris has one river; Lyon has two
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Lyon's Auguste and Louis Lumiere are credited with creating the first film camera
Better than any band, though, is a setting that @placeholder can't match.