24 hours in Lyon

Today I have the opportunity to visit Lyon. For many Parisians like myself it is a town you associate with a traffic jam on the car journey to your summer holidays or your skiing trip. It is a city you always cross but you never actually visit.

On a Monday evening I expected to find all places shut. What a nice surprise as I crossed the Rhone to get to the presquile ! First their are the docks and the bridges beautifully lighted up, the majestic town hall, the old churches and then as I made my way north I hit a very animated neigborouhood. No shortage of restaurants, bars and cafés. The Lyonnais were sitting outside sipping on their wine, sharing meet and cheese platters. It was just the right size of crowd. Enough for the streets to be pleasantly animated but you could still find a table anywhere. No cars on the streets, a joyfull slow life.

Once I got talking to the locals it became obvious that I should come back for the nightlife later in the year when all the dock bars are open.

The next day I decided to be more thorough with my visit of the city. Time to see what the lyonnaise consider their 'Notre Dame'. After quickly crossing the rhone and then the soane notre dame de la Fourvière looked down at me from the top of her hill, I decided to pay her a visit but like all special ladies she was hard to reach! After climbing countless stairs, walking up hidden pathway I reached my goal and was rewarded for it. 

What a view. The cathedral was also very beautiful. Inside, warm colors, delicate mosaics and a group of praying old Lyonnaises welcomed me, they explained how Fourvière was built to thank the Virgin Marie from protecting Lyon and how forever since she was adored by all. 

Coming back to more material matters if you are ever looking for a restaurant with a breathtaking view Le Restaurant de Fourvière is right by the church, open for lunch and diner. Unfortunately it might not be the best hotel to try local cuisine. For that you should wonder down to the old town and walk into 'un Bouchon Lyonnais'. Here is what the menu might look like

This might not be to everyone's taste but there is no question as to if the Lyonnais are sweet tooth or conaisseurs when you judge by the amount of food shops in the old part of town. On my way back, leaving the more folkloric part of town I crossed again to the presquile walk by the place... Where they host the worldly famous Fête des Lumières, I walked around lovely streets with classy shops and imposing town houses. The silk factories had made the city rich in the past and it was still impregnated with that fell of elegance and refinement.

There is much more to see in Lyon but I hope I have at least manage to give you a taste for this incredible town and its magic atmosphere.