The Funky Site

The old town, Vieux Lyons, occupies the west bank of the Rhone and is a lovely area to stroll around on a sunny day. There are over three hundred medieval and Renaissance houses in this part of town which have been restored and the narrow cobblestone streets contain plenty of cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating. Of course there are numerous shops and boutiques also lining the street to relieve you of your money with their arts and crafts.

Bordering the old town is the hillside region of Fourviere (meaning hill of prayer). Over two thousand years ago the Romans built a town here, Lugdunum, and the remains of the amphitheatre can still be wandered around. There is a museum of Roman artifacts here, but we didn't visit so I can't add any more. The views from the top of the hill out over Lyons are superb, apparently as far as Mont Blanc on a clear day.

One museum we did find time for was the highly recommended Centre d'Histoire de la Resistance et de la Deportation, located in the former headquarters of the Gestapo chief Klaus Barbie. Here you'll find a multimedia education about the second world war and France's role in resisting the Germans occupation. As with most war museums, the stories and films are both shocking and informative, and I came away with a greater understanding of both the city's and the country's significance in the war.