visit Lyon

[Kathy Bonaccorsi]

Hi everyone, just joined and so excited about my May Le Puy Camino. Debating if I should take a day for Lyon on the way to Le Puy? Can you suggest a place to stay, a restaurant not to miss, and a site to see? Many thanks! Kathy

 

[Marion-SantiagoInLove]

Hi Kathy, welcome
Lyon is a nice city, second after Paris in size, population and importance in France. There are lots of things to do and to see, it's pretty hard to tell you what to do! And it also depends on your touristic preferences. Lyon's tourist office will certainly help you there

The old city center would certainly be nice to visit. There is also the Fourvière Basilica, to reach with a funicular and that will offer you a great view over the city. If you prefer nature, you can walk along the Rhône river and have a bite on one of the several barge-restaurant there, or visit the parc of the Tête d'Or. There are also shopping possibilities if you'd like to do so... or need some last-minute gears for your Camino!

Maybe you'd like to start your Camino in Lyon already, by following the Way that goes through the city. The local association of the Camino is very active and have made a nice itinerary that will lead you from one spot related to St James and its Way to the other.

Buen preps!
Bon Chemin!

 

[mspath]

Check out this earlier Forum thread on getting the best out of Lyon.
Both the food and architecture are GREAT! You'll have a fine time.

 

[billmclaughlin]

The Lyon silk museum is extraordinary. I went out of a sense of duty, aware of the importance of silk to the city's history, and was bowled over. It's La Maison des Canuts.

 

[Kitsambler]

Lyon is just lovely - easily accessible by train from Paris on the way to Le Puy. Delightful, walkable old city center. Silk artisans still in operation. This is a different region and climate from Paris, so the cuisine - in fact the entire feel of the place - is a bit different. Being smaller than Paris, it's much less hectic. Very worthwhile place to spend a day or two as you recover from jet-lag.

 

[FLEUR]

In Lyon go to the tourist office and ask for the map of the Traboules. These are ancient passages used by the silk workers to travel from street to street. You enter in one, exit via the passages and find yourself arriving in another. During WWII resistance workers made good use of the Traboules.

 

[Sixwheeler]

All excellent advice on here already. I went there regularly for a work and the tourist office is in Place Bellecour which is worth a visit anyway. Best view is from the Four vitreous and best restaurants are in the old part close by and is well signposted. Lyonshall is THE gastronomic centre of France so you're in for a treat. Bon appétit.