I would describe Lyon as the littler, sweeter cousin of
Paris. This beautiful city has history dating back to Ancient Roman times, the streets are
paved with cobblestones and the centre of town is bordered by two rivers: the
Rhône and the Saône. At the western side
of the city lies Fourviere Hill and the Basilica of Notre Dame church which appear to act as a guardian
as they watch over Lyon; it is quite an incredible sight. Known as “the stomach
of France”, Lyon’s streets are lined with traditional bouchons and you would be
hard-pressed to find a café that doesn’t offer a plethora of baguettes and
croissants.
The Saône River
The Rhône River
Place des Jacobins
Sights
Lyon is much smaller in size than Paris so you don’t need as
much time to see it all; I would recommend 3-4 days. In that time you can see
the city centre; shop around Bellecour where there are plenty of chain stores
and designer boutiques; sit by the fountain at Place des Jacobins; wander the
banks of the Rhone and the Saone; ride the funicular up to the top of Fourviere
Hill where the views across the city are breath-taking; visit the Basilica of Notre Dame church;
and take a trip up to the Parc de la tête d’or (Park of the Golden Head), with
its expansive gardens and never-ending lake this is probably the most beautiful
park I have seen (but shhh don’t tell Central Park I said so).
View from Fourviere Hill
Basilica of Notre Dame
Parc de la tête d'or
Transport
France express trains run to and from Lyon so it’s easy to
reach the city if you’re in the country. I arrived from Paris on the TGV which
travelled the 460km in a mere two hours. There are two central train stations
in Lyon; Part Dieu and Perrache; from these stations you can take day trips on
the regional TER train. I visited the little village of Annecy which is nestled
in the Alps; the slow regional train is 5-hours return from Lyon but it is well
worth it. Within the city of Lyon you can get around town using buses, taxis
and bicycles (like the Paris velo system). They also have a strange version of
trams, which are really more like buses in disguise. The city centre is not
very large and pretty much everything is within walking distance.
The village of Annecy at the foot of the alps
Food
Lyon has an incredible number of restaurant and café
choices; they line every street and alleyway. The most common are the Lyonnais
bouchons which serve French food traditional of the region. This style of food
is quite heavy with lots of creams and sauces but it’s certainly worth a try.
While in Lyon I was lucky enough to enjoy two dinners at the restaurant
Archange. This petite restaurant with just ten tables is nestled near the first
arrondisment and an exquisite three course menu will set you back €29.50. The
food is French with a modern twist and the dishes are as pretty as a picture –
I would highly recommend visiting. Le Lyon Castel patisserie at the foot of
Fouviere Hill serves the best pastries and tarts I’ve ever tried – be sure to
stop in for a sweet treat.
Duck l'orange at Archange
Raspberry Tart from Le Castel patisserie
One of the many sweets shops in the old town
I’m so glad I had the opportunity to visit the city of Lyon;
compared to Paris it is a quaint little place with plenty of French culture and
history to offer its visitors. I was lucky enough to arrive in Lyon on Bastille
Day – each year on this day there are fireworks set off from the top of
Fouviere Hill, the French gather on the banks of the Saône and I watched the
most beautiful show of lights I have ever seen. Vive la France.
Photos by Krissie.