Throughout its long history, Lyon has maintained its status as a major player in Europe’s political, cultural and economic development, as well as being one of the most important cities in France. And how could it not be, if Lyon has been around since the 1st century B.C. as the Romans formed it to be the capital of the Three Gauls, and as through the years, it became an industrial and commercial hub of France. Thanks to all of this, today Lyon is a collage of all its past glories and modern drive. For example, you can find Roman ruins and secret passages used by merchants scattered across the city, coexisting with a colorful and creative city where street art and culture take over every available space. As if that wasn’t enough, Lyon is considered the gastronomic capital of France, which is one more reason why the city is such a special place.
Now that we’ve seen a sneak-peek of the city’s charms, we thought that for today’s blog, it would be great to talk a little bit more about it, thinking about how 24 hours in Lyon would look like. Obviously, a day is not enough to discover everything that awaits, but it might be a good way to get to know an oftentimes overlooked city in France. By the end of this blog, it will be obvious that a second visit to Lyon will be needed!
Starting your day with a little bit of history:
Something that defines Lyon today is the fact that at least 10% of the city has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which recognizes the wonderful architecture and urban landscape that has developed in the last thousands of years. Thus, it is obvious that if you just have 24 hours in the city, you must visit part of this World Heritage! Additionally, we think that it is a great way to start your day in Lyon, because that way you can really grasp all of the history of the city and understand the place that you’re visiting.
As you can guess, even 10% of France’s third-largest city is quite a lot, but don’t worry, we have in mind two districts that are perfect to get to know the most real Lyon. Firstly, we have Vieux-Lyon (that is, Old Lyon), right at the heart of the city. Its name tells us that the district holds the relics of the Lyon of another time, with fifteenth and sixteenth-century buildings that hold the stories of ancient rich merchants from all across Europe. In reality, the best way to discover Vieux-Lyon is by stepping through its traboules, the passageways built in the 4th century for merchants traveling across the city. Today, these walkways are mostly open to the public, and they open the door for a whole different kind of Lyon, of exuberant gardens, beautiful courtyards and almost aristocratic homes. Additionally, your tour around Vieux-Lyon cannot end before visiting the Cathpedrale St-Jean-Baptiste, a gothic construction that has been a Lyonnais jewel for over 500 years.
Lyon has some secrets to keep, and if you want to be one of the lucky ones and discover them, you have to explore its traboules.
The second district that we wanted to mention is La Croix-Rousse, a place that has been central in Lyon’s history, as it has been where the silk workers (canuts) established a textile industry so important that Lyon became known as the “silk capital of the world”. Since the district is located atop of a hill, the views are fantastic and it gives you the opportunity to enjoy a panoramic sight of the city. Once you can take your eyes off of the beauty of Lyon, it’s time to truly explore La Croix-Rousse, and there’s no better way to do it than by visiting its oftentimes narrow buildings, which hide traboules and incredible stairways that hold the district’s secrets and most interesting stories. If you’re interested in the industrial background of the neighborhood, you’ll probably love The Maison des Canuts, a museum (and workshop) with exhibitions remembering the history of the silk industry, as well as demonstrations of the creation of products with intricate techniques from the 15th century. Nowadays, La Croix-Rousse has turned into an artistic district, so pay attention to the street art and the numerous artists making the neighborhood one of the most colorful parts of the city.
La Croix-Rousse is a testament of Lyon’s industrial force and one of the reasons why the city was called the “silk capital of the world”.
Seems like a packed morning, don’t you think? For breakfast, you can stop by any café that catches your attention and enjoy some classic French pâtisserie with a cup of coffee. By noon, you’ll be ready to keep making the most out of your day in Lyon.
An afternoon filled with art:
After a morning reminiscing about Lyon's industrial and commercial past, it’s time to change a little bit and discover another incredible side of the city. Clearly, when we think about art and France, our first thought will be Paris with its magnificent collections at the Louvre and Orsay, but did you know that Lyon’s Musée des Beaux-Arts has the finest collection of sculptures and paintings of the country, outside of Paris? In this museum, you’ll find works by Monet, Picasso, Rodin and Rembrandt, as well as one of France’s finest collections of Islamic art, classical Greek sculptures and paintings ranging from the 13th century to the present day. After going around the Musée des Beaux-Arts exploring its best works, you can rest for a while in its mesmerizing courtyard and have a picnic surrounded by art! Don’t you think that’s a great way to have lunch?
The Musée des Beaux-Arts of Lyon has the finest collection of paintings and sculptures of France, outside of Paris.
The clock is ticking and your 24 hours in Lyon are passing. Before the sun goes down, we thought that you could visit the Musée des Confluences, a relatively new museum in the city that deals with existential questions and tries to create the perfect atmosphere to think about our origins, our present and what the future holds for us as humanity, while enabling the dialogue between different sciences. There are over 3.5 million artifacts kept at the Musée des Confluences from natural science, human science, as well as science and technology. Undoubtedly, this is the perfect place for a curious mind.
The Musée des Confluences is a modern building designed to create a dialogue between different sciences and answer existential questions about humanity.
A night exploring the gastronomic capital of France:
We know that it’s been a hectic day, and that’s precisely why we thought your night could be more laid back. By now you know certain essential things about Lyon, like the fact that it is a UNESCO World Heritage jewel, but there’s something missing… The city is also the gastronomic capital of France, and even though there are all kinds of restaurants, Michelin-starred, home-made, fast food, etc., and you’ll find flavors from all over the world, what makes Lyon such a culinary delight is the regional food and the style of the traditional bouchons where it is served. Thus, why don’t you end your wonderful day in the city by eating some of the best regional dishes?
We’ll go over two classic bouchons that will allow you to live the most authentic experience and eat like a local. First off we have Daniel et Denise, one of the most popular bouchons of the city, that you can find in the 3rd, 4th and 5th districts. Its objective is to honor Lyon’s gastronomy and its traditional cuisine, and with someone as Joseph Viola as its chef, who is a M.O.F (best worker of France), it is impossible to not achieve it. Oh, and regardless of what you order, you can always accompany it with a glass of French wine. Then, we have Chez Paul, great for anyone who is experiencing a bouchon for the first time. The restaurant’s decoration will remind you of Lyon’s history, and as you try to identify what you’ve learned about the city on the walls, don’t get confused if you see long tables and chairs near each other. It is not a mistake! The experience here means that you sit next to complete strangers and you all pass around plates of food. It’s a fun and different way to connect with people and get to know a little bit more about locals and other visitors.
Lyon is France’s gastronomic capital, and one of the reasons is the bouchons, the traditional lyonnaise restaurants that will serve you authentic local food.
And with that, our 24 hours in Lyon have come to an end. One day is just too short! There’s still so much we could say about the city that you probably have no choice but to return in the future and finish what you just started. An industrial, artistic and gastronomic place that showcases a different side of France, Lyon is a special city with a charming atmosphere and an incredible spirit. Don’t you want to come back already?
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