What to Do and See in Lyon?
It’s true that France has a lot of beautiful sights but Lyon is one of those jewels which are left undiscovered by so many people that it is necessary to know more about it.
1. Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere – located on the Fourviere Hill, this enchanting basilique rises like a bird above the Saone River. It came to life (1872-1884) after the Franco-Prussian War as a promise made by the people of Lyon to get their city to resist the attacks. Its trademarks belong both to Gothic and Byzantine artistic styles and include magnificent paintings and mosaics.
2. Galerie le Réverbère – this is a photography gallery located on rue Burdeau (the home of many art galleries including paintings, illustrations and sculptures). Those who love bohemian art and want to combine it with a good time and quality drinks should come here.
3. Beautiful shows – whether you select the Lyon National Opera (19th century construction), the National Orchestra, the Maison de la Danse or Théâtre des Célestins you are bound to come across breathtaking shows (drama,dance performances, classical music concerts, puppet shows, dance buffs, etc.)
4. Mural of famous people from Lyon – this is an excellent manner to learn more about local celebrities. The square located between 49 Quai Saint Vincent and 2 Rue de la Martinière was embellished with 31 famous people from Lyon, six contemporary ones and 25 historical figures. The sight is absolutely wonderful!
Where to stay?
Some of the most popular options when visiting Lyon are Globe & Cecil Hôtel (21 rue Gasparin, +33 (0)4 78 42 58 95), Villa Florentine (25 Montee Saint-Barthelemy), Ibis Lyon Centre Perrache (28 Cours de Verdun Perrache) or Mercure Lyon Centre Beaux Arts (73-75 rue President Edouard Herriot).
How to get there?
Lyon can be reached by plane, train or car. The connections between the UK and France are very good and allow easy access to Lyon from different points. If you are looking for an affordable option of traveling you should look into services offered by Thrifty, a car rental company that helps tourists and backpackers plan fantastic a great road trip and economise. This way they can use the money for sightseeing or eating some French delicacies. Sounds excellent!
Dana