Olympique Lyonnais is one of the powerhouses of French football, famous for its seven titles in a row, youth academy and brand-new stadium. The beautiful Lyon is besides an infamous traffic jam hotspot, above all the gastronomic capital of France. If you're asking us, we think Lyon has all the ingredients for a great weekend.
Not long ago, Olympique Lyonnais was the reigning force in French football, with seven league titles in a row and good results in the Champions League. But since 2008, when they won the last of their seven titles in a row, there's been an ongoing drought in Lyon. Not a single league title and Paris Saint-Germain has taken over the domination. Very irritating for the Lyonnais, because they have everything a top club needs: A beautiful new stadium, a great academy and a large fanbase. Despite all the effort, the gap to PSG only seems to become larger.
The relatively young Parc Olympique Lyonnais - for sponsoring reasons called Groupama Stadium - can be seen from far, because of the giant white roof and the absence of buildings in the immediate vicinity. It's also the biggest downside of the stadium, the location in the suburb Décines-Charpieu, more than 10 kilometers out of the city centre. Nevertheless, the stadium has become a home for L'OL very fast, thanks to the seats in club colours and the large club crest on the outside. Just like in the old Stade de Gerland, the atmosphere is electric from time to time.
They are still fresh in our memories, the magical Champions League nights in Stade de Gerland, with the unstoppable free kicks of Juninho Pernambucano and the rockets of Karim Benzema. Pretty much every European top team has been wrecked at least once in Gerland. The stadium at Avenue Jean Jaurés, with the characteristic wavy roof, was beloved by the Lyon fans too. Luckily it has got a second life instead of demolition, with the local rugby team playing their home matches at Gerland now. Anyone who wants to experience Lyon simply can't skip the most important place in the club's history.
Place Bellecour is one of the biggest squares in France and the heart of Lyon, in the middle of the city, between the rivers Rhône and Saône. It's the place where fans come to celebrate titles of L'OL, but also where hundreds of thousands come together to watch the World Cup Finals of France on giant screens. Place du Terreaux, a 10-minute walk from Bellecour, is the place where the Lyon players meet the fans if they win a title.
In Parc OL you'll find Musée OL as well, the museum of the club. You can walk along the trophies Lyon has won over the years and watch a lot of historical images and shirts from ancient times. It's open on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, and during holidays even every day. The entrance is on the north side of the stadium, next to the fan store.
Fans of lower league football can go to the suburb La Duchère, where SC Lyon (previously known as Lyon-Duchère) plays their matches in the Championnat National, the third tier of French football. The Stade de la Duchère-Balmont (Avenue Andrei Sakharov 270) lies in the middle of the neighbourhood, between the tower blocks. Home games are mostly played on Friday nights.
You can buy your tickets on the club's official website and it's quite simple. You receive an e-ticket or you can pick up your tickets at the windows of the stadium. The stadium is never sold out when Lyon plays smaller teams. For big matches against PSG, Marseille and the derby against Saint-Étienne you have to make sure you get your tickets a couple of weeks before, but it's certainly not impossible.
You reach the Parc OL through the N346, the ring road to the east of Lyon. There's plenty of parking space around the stadium, but don't park your car on the street in residential areas. On match days, from central station Part-Dieu, there are direct trams to the stadium, which stop right in front of the Parc OL.
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