yestravel

We're thinking of combining a week in Lyon with a visit to Paris this winter. We don't mind temps in the 40's or so in the day and Lyon looks like it might fit the bill. In doing a search here I find plenty of references to it, but not much information about the city itself. If you've been, what's it like? Is there enough to occupy us for a leisurely week of wandering around, visiting a few museums and cafe sitting? Thanks

StCirq

I love Lyon! I've never spent a full week there, but I'm sure there's more than enough to occupy your time. It has a wonderful Beaux Arts museum plus numerous other small museums, a good métro, lovely cathedral, good river culture, amazing food, fascinating trabouchet wanderings, marvelous trompe l'oeil graffiti (there's a bus ride you can take to see it all), lively music and theater scene...just an absolutely wonderful city (and you can hop on a train and be several other wonderful places in no time for a daytrip or two).

yestravel

Thanks, StCirq -- I think your post convinced me already! How have you been surfing this torrid summer in DC?

FrenchMystiqueTours

You'll find loads of info about Lyon on their tourist office website:

http://www.en.lyon-france.com/

And Paris:

http://en.parisinfo.com/

I've never been to Lyon but I'm looking forward to going someday as I know it's a great city with enough to keep you busy for a week or more.

Christina

I'm not going to rewrite a guidebook, there is tons of informaton on Lyon in guidebooks or their own website, which is very good. Personally, I think a week is stretching it, but it depends on your personal travel style and how much time you usually spend doing things or just doing nothing when you travel. I am not a whirlwhind traveler at all but wouldn't want to spend a week there.

StCirq

yestravel, we have a huge blow-up kiddie pool in the back yard that has gotten us through the hot days, so we're good! And got tickets to France, leaving August 29, so something to look forward to!

Vttraveler

The Gallo-Roman museum in Lyon is also excellent
http://www.musees-gallo-romains.com/en

yestravel

Thanks all -- I have looked at books and on the internet - I was hoping for some first hand experiences.

SC - bet that pool has gotten lots of use. Have a grand time in France.

MaineGG

We really enjoyed our two and a half days in Lyon last year. Here are some comments from my trip report about our visit:

Museum of the Resistance (Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation), Lyon -
http://www.chrd.lyon.fr/chrd/sections/fr/pied/english_1

We arrived in Lyon mid-afternoon and after checking into the hotel took a tram to this museum where we spent two hours seeing a great deal of original print material, audio recordings, film and video presentations. The museum is not large, but the exhibits are in depth and require more than a passing glance. We had recently watched the film, Hôtel Terminus, which had made a great impression on us when we saw it years ago. It's a documentary that covers the period of the occupation of Lyon, and especially events involving Klaus Barbie. It's good background material for a visit to this city and this museum.

[Note: The museum is currently closed for renovation. According to their website, they will reopen October 16, 2012.]

La Maison des Canuts, Croix-Rousse, Lyon - http://www.maisondescanuts.com/english/index.html

On the morning of our second day in Lyon, we took the Metro to the Croix-Rousse neighborhood to visit this small museum of the silkworkers and silk industry. We took the morning guided tour during which a docent/silk-worker demonstrated her weaving skills on a large loom and explained and showed examples of different types of silk weavings (jacquard, brocade and others). There was also a film about the history of the industry in Lyon and the culture of silkworms, along with other exhibits. The tours are in French only, but for the English speakers there were cards explaining some of the information in English.

Le Mur des Canuts (Silkworkers Wall) -
http://www.visitelyon.fr/murs-peints...des,canuts.php

Using a map provided by the museum, we walked a few blocks to a small square to see this large and amazing trompe l'oeil mural. It is said to be the largest in Europe, and it's really impressive.

Traboules - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traboule

We tried to follow the museum's map to walk down the hill using the traboules, but the map was not very accurate and some of the signage had been removed or obliterated with graffiti. A couple of helpful locals put us back on track twice, but then we eventually gave up and went back out on the street to continue our descent.

Bibliothèque de la Cité (City Library)- http://www.francetoday.com/articles/...s-of-lyon.html

Another wonderful trompe l'oeil mural featuring writers associated with Lyon.

Lyon Public Transportation - http://www.tcl.fr/index.asp
Although Lyon is very large city, many of the sites of interest to visitors are fairly close to each other and well-served by public transportation. A Ticket Liberté for €4.80 gives you unlimited rides for one day on the Metro, Bus, Tram and Funiculars. All are convenient and easy to use.

Our one restaurant meal in Lyon was here:

Le François Villon, Vieux Lyon - www.lefrancoisvillon.fr/home.php

We happened upon this nice small bouchon while wandering around Vieux Lyon our first night there. We had the Menu des Canuts and a nice house red (Côtes-du-Rhone, I think). I had the cervelle des canuts followed by the délice du Villon and my husband had the salade lyonnaise and bavette à l'échalottes. The food, service and ambiance were very enjoyable.

Some photos here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1080026...9gE&feat=email

Last, but not least, don't miss the wonderful statue of St.-Exupéry and his Petit Prince on the perimeter of the Place Bellecoeur. Charming.

I could have enjoyed a few more days in Lyon. I'd love to see more. Maybe someday.

yestravel

MaineGG-thank you so much!