5 Best Performing Arts Venues in Lyon and the Alps, France

For three weeks in late March and early April this \"transcultural\" music festival is prime time for 85 or more concerts of exceptional originality and cultural breadth held in venues throughout the city, from historic churches to state-of-the-art concert venues.

Started in the 1960s, this international animated film festival, one of the most respected in the industry, takes place for one week every June in and around the town of Annecy. The festival receives more than 2,500 entries annually from which 200 are short-listed to take part in the official selection. In addition to indoor screenings around town—the Musée-Château, La Turbine, and the Parc Vignières-Pommaries are frequent hosts—there's a free screening on the giant screen on the Pâquier lawn each evening.

The café-theater Espace Gerson presents revues and assorted stand-up shows.

Here you can eat and drink while watching a comedy show.

Also known as the Minette Theatre, Le Complexe du Rire is a lively satirical café-theater above Place des Terreaux.