For the third time in history, the country of France will host the UEFA European Championships. Euro 2016 begins in earnest on Friday, June 10, with the best soccer-playing countries in the continent battling it out in 10 venues scattered across the beautiful host country.
Let’s take a quick look at what to expect from those 10 cities and stadiums, with a few tidbits on what makes each one unique. And for more Euro 2016 coverage, check out our complete tournament preview here.
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2016 Euro Cup Cities and Venues
Saint-Denis
It will host the opening game of the tournament – France vs. Romania – as well as the Euro 2016 final, where Les Bleus will be the big +300 favorite to celebrate around the stadium once again.
Marseille
Marseille is the oldest city in France, but it remains a vibrant and dynamic metropolis blessed with spectacular beaches overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and loads of culture. That’s why it’s a very popular tourism spot – around five million people visited in 2013 – and tens of thousands more will flock to the Stade Velodrome, home to Olympique de Marseille since 1937, during the Euros to watch the hosts take on Albania.
Lyon
Lyon is quite a historically significant city, going all the way back to the Roman Empire. Meanwhile, booming trade during the Middle Ages made the city known for its fine cuisine. Lyon is also famous for being the birth place of the Lumiere brothers, who are considered the world’s first film-makers.
And speaking of film-making, the brand spanking new Parc Olympique Lyonnais – opened only in January 2016 – will provide a worthy cinematic backdrop as it hosts one of the two semifinal matches in this year’s tournament.
Lille
Lille is a bustling, cosmopolitan city that can be accessible by neighboring countries: Belgium, the Netherlands and England. Thanks to that strategic position, it has become known as a hub of culture and the arts. Meanwhile, the Stade Pierre Mauroy is one of the city’s finest works of art. The 50,000-seater stadium has been the modern home of Lille OSC since 2012 and will host France’s matchup against neighbors Switzerland.
Paris
The city of Paris needs no introduction. The City of Light is known the world over for its unmatched beauty, history, food, and culture. The French capital will host world champions Germany at the historic Parc des Princes for its group game against Northern Ireland.
Bordeaux
The city of Bordeaux is most famous for its production of some of the world’s finest wines, as well as the classical and neoclassical architecture found throughout the city. In recent years, though, Bordeaux has been at the center of modern advancements in the aeronautical and space industry. It has also modernized its soccer stadium with the 42,000-seater Stade Matmut Atlantique, which was finally completed in 2015.
Saint-Etienne
Saint-Etienne has a history as a blue-collar city that was right at the center of the Industrial Revolution in the country. But while it has become more known in the design and visual arts sector, it still hasn’t forgotten its roots. That’s evident in the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, which was opened in 1931 and will be the oldest stadium to host games in Euro 2016.
Nice
With its picturesque scenes provided by majestic mountain ranges and the Mediterranean Sea, Nice is second only to Paris as the most popular tourist hotspot in the country. The tens of thousands of visitors who will make their way to the city in Euro 2016 will be treated to Mediterranean neighbor Spain, the highest profile team that’ll play in the Stade de Nice.
Lens
The city of Lens was built on the strength of a robust coal mining industry. The city has since striven to transition into a new identity, and the opening of the Lourve-Lens art museum in 2012 has helped. But a symbol of the old days still stands tall in the form of the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, which opened all the way back in 1934 and will host the all-British clash between England and Wales.
Toulouse
Toulouse – also known as “La Ville Rose” or “The Pink City” thanks to the color of the bricks used in many buildings – is a city with a great blend of history and modernity. It has since become the capital of the aeronautics industry in the continent. The Stadium de Toulouse, which opened in 1938, still stands, though, and will host European giants Spain and Italy during the group stages of Euro 2016.
Can’t wait to see these French cities up close and personal? Create a betting account now and get ready to watch and bet on some Euro 2016 soccer action.
