The town of Nîmes goes all out for Christmas, with thousands of lights and giant candy canes all along the streets. It might just be the most festive city in France!

Sakado (a play on sac à dos, “backpack”) is an organization that helps the homeless of France by collecting backpacks filled with all of life’s essentials, from hygienic products to books. As this article reports, homelessness is one of France’s biggest domestic problems.

The original lyricism, the striking rhythms, and the fragile melodies of up-and-coming singer-songwriter Buridane have made her career take off. She’s now launching a tour all over France and has been asked to perform at several big music festivals.

Take a look behind the scenes in Lyon as members of the women’s fencing organization “Le Masque de Fer” compete for a spot in the upcoming World Cup. Club leader Corinne Maitrejean is sure to get one.

The members of the Lyon-based group Instinct Lyrical are into “intergenerational” rap—rap they hope will have a message for their neighbors of all ages.

International soccer in South Africa isn’t just for the World Cup! A group of eight kids from Lyon has the chance to win big—on and off the field—thanks to the “Sport in the City” association.

Hop aboard the Trolley des Lumières bus restaurant and dine in style while sightseeing through the city of Lyon. An unforgettable dining experience!

"Un Petit Noir" (or "A Small Black," a slang term for a small black coffee) is the bookstore café in Lyon specializing not only in gourmet coffees, but also in detective novels and thrillers. Besides crime fiction and caffeine, the store also serves some great jazz concerts to add to the "noir" ambiance.