New museum celebrates the French gastronomy and the future of nutrition with a wide range of exhibitions and events for all ages
Our tummies have been rumbling for some time now, but finally Lyon’s much-anticipated International City of Gastronomy is open for business.
It’s nine years after UNESCO added the French gastronomic meal to its intangible cultural heritage list, and now we can see what all the fuss is about in this venue dedicated to celebrating its reputation and its history.
Nestled in the oldest part of the newly renovated Grand Hôtel Dieu, la Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie de Lyon will host numerous events, demonstrations, talks and exhibitions across a 4,000 sq m space.
Its attractions include:
• An exhibition on the history of Lyon’s gastronomy, the top chefs and the ‘mères’ (mothers) who built Lyon’s reputation, and a selection of collectors’ items
• A digital space devoted to the French meal, France’s terroirs and its cuisine
• A space devoted to reflections on nutrition in the future
• An interactive voyage through the gastronomy atlas
• ‘MiamMiam’, an area for children to discover the pleasure of eating well at any age.
If you have time to pop along before the end of the year, be sure to check out the Giuseppe Arcimboldo exhibition, showcasing the 16th-century painter’s portraits made entirely from objects such as fruits, vegetables and fish.
The Cité is open every day from 10 am to 7 pm and until 10pm on Saturdays. For more information, ticket prices and foodie inspiration, visit www.citegastronomielyon.fr.
Image ©Geoffrey Reynard
