This picture enables you to see how hilly the city of Lyon is. On top of the hill, you can see again the Fourviere basilica, from where it is very nice to walk down as it is surrounded by gardens. The way the rivers from Lyon are converted is typical from the French urban policies that were conducted in the last years: a lot of rivers going through

This statue could firstly seem to be a typically touristy attraction, in the middle of the Bellecour square, the largest square in Europe. But actually, according to some urban legends, there is a whole drama story behind it... It represents the King Louis XIV riding his horse. However, if you look carefully, you can see that a "terrible mistake" w

Tony Garnier was an architect and city planner who designed a whole industrial area of Lyon, in the beginning of the XXth Century. Flats were built for workers close to the factory where they were working, as well as facilities, such as schools and hospitals. Such urban areas designed for the working class allowed industrial owners to have paternal

Lyon is also very famous for its cooking, especially with Bocuse, one of the most famous chefs in the world. "Gratin d'andouillette au Saint-Marcellin", "Assiette de cochonaille chaude", "Riz de veau meunière"... As you can see on that picture, and on the menu of the local "bouchons lyonnais", it is not the most vegetarian-suitable one ever. But i

Saint Jean is the old quarter of the city, with houses that were build in the XVIth Century, whose architecture is influenced by the Italian one, again because of the proximity of Lyon with Italy. The Traboules are little streets in the entry of buildings that lead to a small schoolyard. The first thing that you can think when you see them is that

Fourty minutes away from Lyon, you can get to the middle-age city of Perouges, famous for a variety of reasons. Its inhabitants resisted an attack from the Dolphins (from the region of Dauphine, which is the area of Grenoble), and managed to save nearly all their goods, apart from the door at the entry of the city. If you feel like trying the local

Beautiful village of the Beaujolais region, owing its name to the village Beaujeu, and often nicknamed "the land of golden stones". If you wander in that region, you will see a lot of those houses, built with the local stones, with that very special vivid coulour. You can also try the local wine, known for its simplicity and lightness (less strong

The Tete d'Or ("Golden head") parc was created at the XIXth century, partly under the influence of hygienist ideas that people should live in healthy environments in the city. Its name is due to its huge entry door, which is surrounded by gold-colored motives. It is nowadays the biggest urban parc in France, and is very appreciated by either famili

The story of this house, situated in the countryside in Hauterives, Drome, one hour away from Lyon, sounds like a fairy tale: it was built by Mister Cheval, who spent thirty years of his life doing it in his freetime. One day after work, while he was riding his bicycle, he found a rock whose shape was so special and inspiring that it reminded him o