“There aren’t many customers who own a boat and decide to move it to the French overseas departments and territories, so this was an exceptional assignment,” explains Wilfrid Montagnac, Deputy Director in charge of operations.

The branch, which has a joinery on site, adapts to each customer and can transport all types of vehicles, from quad bikes to motorbikes, cars and rickshaws.

A tailor-made joinery support structure

“In this case, we were looking at a length of 5.4m for the boat and its trailer,” says Wilfrid Montagnac. So he called on his team’s joiner to make a structure called a cleat for loading the boat into the container. This operation takes between 40 minutes and two hours, depending on the requirements.

For this type of operation, we opt for made-to-measure,” he points out. “In this case we needed a bulkhead to load the container, but on other occasions we make bespoke mezzanines depending on the type of vehicle to be transported“.

Efficient boat transportation solutions

Customers bring their boats and trailers to the depot, and the AGS team takes care of everything. They are responsible for ancillary operations, such as securing the engine, which must be chocked and locked to prevent any damage during handling and transport, and preparing the battery: “We have to disconnect the battery and check that nothing can switch the battery on during transport”, says Wilfrid Montagnac.

AGS Rhône Alpes can also transport boats to destinations other than the French overseas territories. In these cases, the vessel’s owner must supply a navigation permit and, sometimes, the vehicle registration document for the trailer.

It is thanks to this in-house expertise and its on-site carpentry workshop that the branch is one of the few able to carry out this type of operation, and word is spreading!

Are you looking to move exceptional vehicles abroad? Contact us today!

Resident and Work Permits for Moving to Lyon

To live and work in France, and therefore Lyon, you must have a work permit and a residence permit. These two permits are linked and can be acquired from the police department and labour department, respectively. Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area, Monaco, and Switzerland can move freely within the European territory and don’t need a residence permit to reside in Lyon. Residence permits are valid for 5-10 years and are renewable, while work permits can be valid for up to 12 months.

Depending on what kind of work permit you have and the level of financial support you can offer, your non-working spouse will also need a residence permit. Minors don’t need a residence permit.

Click here for AGS Movers to assist you with your move to Lyon or any major surrounding cities.

The Cost of Living in Lyon

While the cost of living in Lyon is 21% lower than in Paris (in 2023), it is still a costly place to live. Monthly living expenses for a single person are approximately €1,938, while a family of four can expect to spend around €3,804 (in 2023). However, you may be able to save money by shopping at flea markets and dining at inexpensive restaurants.

One way to make life in Lyon more affordable is to live in the suburbs where rents are cheaper. The excellent transport system means that you don’t need a car to get to the city centre for work. And when you consider how heavy the traffic can be in large cities, public transport is definitely a more efficient way to travel, but more on that later in this article.

To compare the estimated cost of living of different countries, click here.

Arrondissements – Where to Live in Lyon

Lyon, like many large French cities, is divided into nine arrondissements or administrative districts. The arrondissements are numbered 1 through 9 and are listed below:

1^st Arrondissement:

Home to Place des Terreaux, Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), the Opera House, and St. Nizier Church. Its pubs and bars make it one of the liveliest parts of the city.

2^nd Arrondissement:

This is a varied and commercial district situated at the southern tip of the peninsula, which is formed by two rivers – the Saône and the Rhône. The largest square in Europe, the Place Bellecour can be found here.

3^rd Arrondissement:

The most populated district in the city and the location of the Part-Dieu train station, which connects Lyon to the rest of the country and Europe. In 1971, this district welcomed the central food market of Halles Paul Bocuse, which quickly became (and still is) a popular destination for food enthusiasts.

4^th Arrondissement:

This is a residential area at the top of the Croix-Rousse hill between the Saône and Rhône rivers. It has many traditional apartments and a history of silk production.

5^th Arrondissement:

Located on the left bank of the Rhône, the fifth arrondissement is the historical part of the city. It is home to some of Lyon’s most iconic landmarks, including the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière.

6^th Arrondissement:

Home of the Parc de la Tête d’Or, the largest urban park in France. Commonly described as Lyon’s most exclusive district, the 6^th arrondissement has wide avenues lined with striking buildings and mansions.

7^th Arrondissement:

This district began as a subset of the third arrondissement and has expanded into the largest district in Lyon. It is a vibrant centre for students and young adults and offers a diverse choice of restaurants, cafés, schools, and parks.

8^th Arrondissement:

The eighth arrondissement is considered the city’s working-class residential area. It is also home to the Institut Lumière, where the Lumière brothers invented cinematography in 1895.

9^th Arrondissement:

Last, but not least, the ninth arrondissement is a residential area offering lower rents and beautiful views over the Saône river and the back of Fourvière Hill.

International Schools in Lyon

The Ombrosa International School

The Ombrosa International School is a private multilingual school established in 1971. The school provides education for pupils aged 3-18 and is home to 1429 learners from 49 different nationalities (in 2023) who follow an International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. Ombrosa offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities, including gymnastics, judo, science and nature, football, musical theatre club, chess, band, and journalism.

The Cité Scolaire Internationale de Lyon

The Cité Scolaire Internationale de Lyon welcomes students wanting to follow an international school curriculum within the French education system which results in the International Option of the Baccalaureate (IOB). Currently (in 2023) a total of 1900 learners between the ages of 6-18 attend the school. It offers nine international sections based on different languages, namely: Arabic, Chinese, English, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish.

What To Do in Lyon

There is an abundance of activities to choose from in Lyon, some of which are listed below:

• Discover the city on a cruise along the Rhône and Saône rivers
• Admire the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière
• Treat yourself to dinner at a world-class restaurant
• Go on an adventure at Parc de la Tête d’Or
• Pay homage to the Lumière brothers at the Institut Lumière.

Transportation in Lyon

Most of Lyon is walkable, but if you do use public transport, you’ll find you can easily get from one point of the city to another at a reasonable price. Lyon’s public transport network is run by the Transports Communs Lyonnais (TCL) and consists of six tram lines, four metro lines, two funicular railways and over a hundred bus routes. A bus or metro pass costs around €2 for one ticket or €58 for the month (2023). In the busy summer months, you will likely find that public transport is cheaper and more convenient than driving.

You have 12 months to convert your original driving license to a French license once you have obtained a residence permit. Until then, you are permitted to drive with a valid foreign license.

With the TGV (the fastest train in France), you can get to Paris and the Mediterranean beaches in only two hours and the L’Alpe d’Huez in one hour. Within 45 minutes of Lyon you can:

• access the great hiking trails of the Alps or the Vercors
• see the magnificent lavender fields of Provence
• visit picturesque villages like Pérouges, Pont-en-Royans, and atypical places like Postman Cheval’s Ideal palace.

Lyon also has its own international airport called Lyon–Saint Exupéry.

What’s the verdict?

Lyon is an incredible city rich in history. It offers job opportunities in various industries, excellent public transportation, friendly people, mouth-watering dishes, and many other attractions.

AGS Movers Lyon is based in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes but also covers all major cities in the region such as Grenoble, Chambéry, Annecy, Saint-Etienne and Clermont-Ferrand. Our skilled and versatile team can provide you with a customised moving experience.

Contact AGS Movers for professional assistance during your relocation.