Walking
tours
Lyon’s
Tourist Office (telephone number: (04) 7277 6969, e-mail: visit@lyon-france.com)
offers a variety of walking tours in several languages. There are
guided tours, such as the 2 hour ‘Maison des Canuts and the
traboules of Croix-Rousse Hill’ tour and the ‘Lyon Renaissance
district’ tour, which takes in the Renaissance district of
Lyon (both tours cost approx €9). Three-hour guided tours of
a world of images, poetry, art and the 24 murals dedicated to local
architect Tony Garnier also are available and arranged through the
Tourist Office, costing €9. Departure points vary depending
on the tour.
The Tourist Office also offers an audio-guided tour of Lyon, complete
with an itinerary map and personal stereos for hire in 4 languages
(English, German, Spanish and Italian) for €6.
Self-guided tours are also available with the excellent guidebook
World Heritage Excursions, costing €6. These
include ‘Presqu’île North’ and ‘Presqu’île
South’.
Bus Tours
Philibert Lyon Vision (telephone number: (04) 7898 5662, e-mail:
web-tou-recep@philibert.fr,
website: www.philibert.fr)
runs a number of sightseeing tours in air-conditioned coaches. A
90-minute tour of the city costs €15 and passes through Old
Lyon, Fourvière Hill, Croix-Rousse and many other sites and
monuments. The coach leaves Lyon Perrache station at 0900, 1030,
1330, 1530 and 1730 hrs.
Boat
Tours
Naviginter, 13 bis quai Rambaud
(telephone number: (04) 7842 9681, fax number: (04) 7842 1109, e-mail:
contact@naviginter.fr;
website: www.naviginter.fr)
offers various river cruises, including the 2 hour tour up the Sâone
River, which costs €7.50. The tour starts and finishes at quai
Rambaud.
Excursions for Half
a Day
Pérouges
The medieval city of Pérouges, surrounded by green fields,
is situated in the Dombes region, approximately 34km (22 miles)
from Lyon and accessible from exit 7 of the A42. Once inside the
city’s ramparts, the visitor is transported back into the
Middle Ages with a fortress church, picturesque houses and shops.
Other features include the Porte d’en Bas and the Porte d’en
Haut (the upper and lower gates), which lead onto rue des Rondes
and the Ostellerie (Hostelry), at the end of rue des Princes on
place du Tilleul. The latter is one of the most beautiful residences
in Pérouges, dating from the 13th century and listed as a
historic monument. Additional information is available from the
Tourist Office
in Pérouges (telephone number: (04) 7461 0114, e-mail:
info@perouges.org).
Grottes de la Balme (Grottos of Balme)
The Grottes de la Balme (telephone number: (04) 7490 6376, fax number:
(04) 7490 6703) are one of the most beautiful natural wonders of
France, situated about 45km (28 miles) from Lyon, between Crémieu
and Lagnieu. There is a lake, a waterfall and many other natural
features to explore. Entrance to the caves, which includes a guided
tour, costs €6. The caves are open 1000-1200 hrs and 1400-1800
hrs, with limited opening in November and February and weekends.
The caves are closed between 15 December and 1 February every year.
Visitors can reach the caves by following the signs to Crémieu,
after exiting the A43 at Saint Quentin Fallavier.
For
a Whole Day
Chemin de
Fer du Vivarais (Vivarais Railway)
The Vivarais Railway is located in a superb part of the Doux
Valley. By road, it is accessible via the A7, exiting at
Tain. By train, the closest stations are Tain-Tournon or Valence,
from where a bus goes to Tournon. The railway, built between 1886
and 1905, goes from Tournon to Lamastre and is powered by authentic
machinery dating from the beginning of the century. The whole trip
lasts 2 hours and passes through magnificent countryside. Trips
are available from April to November. A return trip costs €17.50
and a single €16. The railway is managed by Chemin de Fer Touristique
et de Montagne, 2 quai Jean Moulin (telephone number: (04) 7828
8334, fax number: (04) 7200 9767, website: http://mastrou.free.fr).
Beaujolais area
A day excursion in the Beaujolais area takes the visitor
on a picturesque road through vineyards and can incorporate the
Hameau en Beaujolais (Hamlet in Beaujolais), situated 30km (19 miles)
from Lyon, in the heart of the Beaujolais area. The Hamlet (telephone
number: (03) 8535 2222, e-mail: info@hameau-du-vin.tm.fr,
website: www.hameauenbeaujolais.com)
is a living museum of vineyards and wine production, with guided
tours lasting two hours and costing €11.50. The price includes
a free Beaujolais or Mâconnais wine-tasting session. Open
daily 0900-1800 hrs (closed 2 January-18 January), the Hamlet is
accessible from Lyon via the A6, exiting at Belleville or by train
from Lyon to Romanèche-Thorins. |
