Destinations: A visitors guide to Lyon, France

Lyon, France’s second city, is a great place to visit. Situated at the confluence of two major rivers, the Rhone and Soane, both of which are navigable, you can arrive in the city by boat or you can start a river cruise from there.

The navigable rivers were what led the Romans to site a major civic centre in what is now the city of Lyon. There are significant Roman remains, including an amphitheater which is situated towards the top of the hill above the old town. This magnificent venue is the stage for concerts during parts of the year, and, if the entertainment should start to flag, there are spectacular views across the plain beyond Lyon to keep your attention.

The old town, centred on the Cathedral, is a delightful series of cobbled streets, bars, restaurants and shops, many of which, but not all, cater for the tourist trade. There are, however, sufficient folk living in the Old Town to give it the feel of a ‘real’ place, rather than having been ‘disneyfied’.

There are many museums, all of which are worth visiting. The most poignant is the Centre for the Resistance and the Occupation, housed in the building used by the Gestapo for its headquarters during WW2, which in a very simple and non-exploitative way reminds the visitor what the war was fought for.

The city is renowned the world-over for its restaurants which fill both a lunch-time and then again in early evening. Some streets are filled with eating paces and most restaurants are filled by locals, so the quality has to be good! If you are adventurous, try the local, peasant, food. Basic, but excellent. And, if you don’t speak French, don’t forget that Steak Tartare is basically raw minced steak with lemon juice sprinkled over it.

There is a public lido on the river that has a large swimming pool and which catches the sun very well during the heat of the summer days. If you burn easily, stock up on the sun block. you’ll need it!

There are great shopping areas, and a number of streets between the rivers just to the north of the Place Bellecour which is also where the Tourist Information Centre is.

As you’d expect in France, Hotels are relatively inexpensive for the quality you are offered.

Public transport is excellent. The subway is automated (no drivers) and integrated with the bus and train systems. Tickets, as long as you’re travelling in the same direction and the journey is no longer than an hour, are transferable from one form of transport to another. Getting there couldn’t be easier. There is an airport and the TGV (high speed train) lives up to its name with an hourly service to and from Paris. Travel time is 2 hours for the 360 miles.

The city lies in the Rhone district, so there’s no need to guess what wine the locals drink, Cotes du Rhone. Just don’t be tempted to overdo it – the French have wine as an adjunct to socialising, rather than getting drunk being the whole point of drinking, as the English do from time to time.

You can find more, specific information at: http://www.en.lyon-france.com/

Try visiting now before the rest of the world discovers that this is a great place to spend some time.