The Other Spot

Lyon is the third largest city in France after Paris and Marseille. There is one and half million inhabitants and is one of the great unknown by tourists speaking, the Gallic country. Few know, for example, that the Renaissance district, Le Vieux Lyon, which was listed by UNESCO as World Heritage.

The beauty of Lyon is partly determined by its geography. In the town the rivers Rhone and Saone, Lyon is crowned by two hills Furvière la Croix Rouge. The rivers divide the city into three zones, the peripheral (primarily residential and industrial), the Presqu-île (in Castilian means almost island) where the famous Place Bellecour and the shopping area and the old town which most monuments are: Furvière Church, the Roman Theater, the Gallo-Roman museum, the intricate streets of Vieux Lyon, with its bistros and craft shops where you can pick up unique toys puppet (art that was born in Lyon like a movie but the Lumière brothers and his museum talk in another post).

Those who visit Lyon can not stop a walk around the neighborhood of Croix Rousse (hill work) on the hill of the same name. It is an ancient settlement created by the traders of the Silk Road that if they came to the city after it closed its doors to spend the night sheltered. Still retains impressive buildings of the era.

Legend has it that the city of Lyon was born from the union of the two rivers that meet at it: the Rhone and the Saone. The Rhone is a river, strong and rectíneo, but instead the Saone is much thinner and sinuous. Both exemplify the man and woman and their union was born the fertile population of Lyon.

One of my favorite places in this city is the wonderful Parc de la Tête d’Or (golden head park). With extension is enjoyed walking through the trails, forests and gardens. Within the park is also the city’s zoo and botanical garden. Admission is free. Lyon are many who go there on weekends to enjoy nature and family. In the different paths is very common to see families by bike or on skates, people running, playing soccer groups in the grass. It is a place which breathes very quietly. Within the enclosure can also find a sizable lake where boats can be rented for a ride, there are also enabled a play area for children with carousel and crepes shop included.

French cities in general do not have a great variety for nightlife. Lyon is quite exceptional in this regard. The city has three public universities plus a few other private schools. Therefore, young people in Lyon is quite remarkable and it shows in the amount and variety of bars and nightclubs. The pubs are concentrated mostly in the old and rarely open more than 2 in the morning. Then there are some clubs and outside on the river Saone which there are moored boats have been converted into nightclubs. In my opinion are the best out in Lyon.

If what you want is a little calmer, Lyon is an ideal city. Restaurants are numerous and some of them are quite affordable. They say that Lyon is the cradle of French gastronomy. After dinner you can always enjoy the great cultural offerings of the city for example in the Opera de Lyon.