Lyon - the city with the painted walls

Published on 1 January 2018 at 18:36

Lyon is one of the most important cities in France and is considered by many people to be the capital of the French culinary. It is also one of the largest cities in the country. There are beautiful old buildings in the picturesque districts and the atmosphere is simply enchanting.

 

Arrival

From Basel we took the train to Lyon. The ticket cost only 40 euros and the journey took about 3 hours.

 

Old town

Lyon's medieval old town lies at the foot of the Fourvière hill on the banks of the Saône and is easy to explore on foot. A network of hidden corridors and passages connecting alleys and buildings - right up to the many museums, there is much to discover in Vieux Lyon, the "old Lyon".

 

Notre Dame de Fourvière

To the west of the old town rises the hill of Fourvière. The hill is best known for the incredible views over Lyon that can be enjoyed from its top, as well as the Catholic Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière that sits atop it. The basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with other historic towns in the city. Two of the oldest funicular railways in the world lead up the hill.

 

Parc de la Tête d'Or

The Parc de la Tête d'Or (Park of the Golden Head) is one of the largest urban parks in France. The 117-hectare park includes a small lake and the Lyon zoological garden. The Parc de la Tête d'Or is the ideal place to enjoy some fresh air in the centre of Lyon. In addition to the zoo, the park also houses a botanical garden and rose gardens, playgrounds and ponies for riding, a miniature railway and much more. The park is the ideal place for a picnic with the family or for a nice walk.

 

Bouchons Lyonnais

Enjoy regional French cuisine in one of Lyon's traditional bouchons. The city's simple and lively inns serve hearty meat dishes. From chicken liver salads to pork offal sausages, fine fish balls and braised meats to lemon meringue tart for dessert, you can get an excellent dinner at any of the 20 Bouchons Lyonnais. A visit to Lyon is not complete without lunch or dinner at one of these worthy representatives of French cuisine.

 

Painted houses

They are a real specialty and have become a tradition in Lyon: painted house walls can be found all over the city. They are often large façades that are completely painted. Probably Lyon's largest and most elaborate mural, certainly one of the most famous, is the Mur peint des Canuts.

 

La Place Bellecour

The Place Bellecour is one of the largest places in Lyon. There is a beautiful Ferris wheel in the middle of the square. The metro stops right in front of it. There are many shops and restaurants all around.

 

Hotel

We spent our days in Lyon in the Grand Hotel des Terreaux. It was quite well located, so we could do almost everything on foot. It is a simple but also inexpensive hotel.

 

Rating: 5 stars
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