When in Lyon
France's second city makes for a pleasant few days and visitors will not be short of things to do, with the city boasting a fine range of Renaissance architecture, museums, food, fashion and art galleries, second only, in fact, to Paris.
Founded in Roman times on the banks of two rivers, this hilly city grew to prominence thanks to its silk industry. Although few of the silk weavers remain, the artisan culture, the industrious work ethic of the people and a love of fashion remain in Lyon.
A good place to start on a tour of the city is the large place Bellecour based in the city's smartest and most central district. Look out for the equestrian statue of Louis XIV. From here, it is possible to get your bearings on the rest of the city, especially if you visit the site's tourist information outlet, although this guide should be all the discerning traveller requires.
From here, head to the La Croix-Rousse, which was once the hub of the city's thriving silk weaving industry. Today it is home to a large number of smart restaurants and boutiques - certainly one for the fashionistas in your party. For those who want to learn more about the city's silk industry, head to the area's Maison des Canuts, which provides a good introduction to Lyon's association with the trade.
Visitors who have not had their fill of smart shops can also try the northern stretch of the rue Cours de la Liberté, while in the north of the city, the Cite Internationale building along quai Charles de Gaulle houses the Musée d'Art Contemporain, which contains works by many leading modern and post-modern artists.
The UNESCO World Heritage site that is the Old Town is also well worth ambling around, with its many mediaeval and renaissance buildings
Fans of photography will want to head to the Institut Lumière on rue du Premier Film, where the inventors of film resided. It houses numerous early cameras, photographs and magic lanterns. Visitors will also enjoy the on site cinema.
Those flying in to the city will do so via the Saint-Exupéry airport, around 15 miles west of the city. A Satobus service will get you cheaply in to town in slightly over half an hour. Taxis are not much faster but considerably more expensive.
The city's Perrache station is where all the train services from Paris arrive, with the journey taking just two hours on the fastest TGV services. However, try to arrive at Part-Dieu station, which has the best links with the rest of the city ? many regional trains come in to here.
Getting around town is easy thanks to the city's metro service. Its four lines run frequent trains and it is far better than braving the busy roads above. If you do discover yourself requiring a bus, you may find that a connected bus and metro day ticket works best. Trams and funicular railways also provide a bit of fun for the visitor.
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Introduction
