Lyon - Stade de Gerland
Capacity: 41,044
Built: 1920. Reconstructed in 1998
Home of Olympique Lyonnais
Lyon, the third-largest city in France, lies at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers. It boasts some of France’s finest restaurants, so perhaps sample signature dishes including Lyon sausage, tripe Lyonnais or any dish featuring the region’s succulent Bresse chicken. With a balanced mix of skyscrapers and parks in bloom, you’re assured of lively nightlife, great shopping and terrific sightseeing opportunities. Partly built by German POWs, Lyon’s Stade Gerland (capacity 41,044) is entered by four neo-classical gates, which are classed as historical monuments.
Marseille - Stade Vélodrome
Capacity: 60,031
Built: 1937
Home of Olympique de Marseille
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Wonderfully located in the picturesque Provence region of France, Marseille is France’s premier port and second largest city. It also has a wonderful ambience that can be found on its busy streets and outdoor cafés, particularly those along the main thoroughfare, La Canabière, known as ‘can of beer’ amongst American GIs during World War II. Here you’ll find shops of all description and many fine restaurants serving outstanding Provençal-style dishes. For sensational seafood dishes, including the celebrated Marseillaise bouillabaisse, follow La Canabière down to the scenic Vieux Port, and discover the many restaurants that ring the yacht and fishing boat filled harbour. Public beaches just outside the city, cabaret joints, nightclubs and music bars playing all forms of music add to Marseilles magic. Known as ‘the temple of French football’, Marseille’s Vélodrome Stadium holds up to 60,000 supporters and is France’s largest club stadium.
Montpellier - Stade de la Mosson
Capacity: 35,000
Built: 1970's
Home of Hérault Rugby Club
The sun-drenched Mediterranean city of Montpellier goes back over 1,000 years. Out of a population of 380,000, over a quarter are students, many of which are enrolled in the university, whose alumni has included Rabelais and Nostradamus. Montpellier’s attractive centre is characterised by with tree-flanked promenades, broad avenues, historic monuments and great cafés and restaurants lining bustling streets like rue de la Loge, complete with talented jugglers, mimes, and musicians. Montpellier’s Stade de la Mosson (capacity 33,500), is named after the river that flows around it and bears a close resemblance to Leeds United’s Elland Road.
Nantes - Stade de La Beaujoire
Capacity: 32,285
Built: 1984. Renotated: 1998
Home of FC Nantes
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Brittany’s largest town, Nantes is the capital of the beautiful Pays-de-la-Loire region. Located on the largest of three islands in the Loire and near the Atlantic coast, it is blessed with excellent museums, golden beaches, many terrific seafood restaurants and fine wines including Muscadet, the perfect partner for sea-fresh oysters. It’s also a certified party town, as you’ll discover in the pubs and cafés along the place du Bouffay, place du Pilori and rue Kervagen. There’s a terrific live music scene in Nantes, covering everything from blues and jazz to rock and metal, as well as nightclubs running the gamut from vintage 1970s disco to the latest techno. Nantes’ intimate La Beaujoire Stadium, built in 1984 and renovated in 1998 to seat up to 38,285 spectators, is located in a peaceful suburban area with a few drinking spots outside.
