This is one of those spots that falls directly on my bucket list. As you all know, I write, and "Alice" is a story of the most boring woman in the world. I'm not heartless, so I change that for her throughout the story. As is typical, Alice has to get away to clear her head and get a sense of her future. So, I send her to Lyon and Perouges along the Rhone River in the rolling hills west of the Alps. Why not Paris?
Paris is ground zero for art, culture, history and tourism. Frankly, it's also a bit unfriendly, crowded, overpriced and inconvenient. Whereas, Lyon is France's third largest city, and has everything you might want from a trip to France, and some surprising extras.
Lyon sits in the Rhone River Valley, and it has a history that spans over 2,000 years. Part of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The people of Lyon celebrate their history all over the place. You can catch a dinner cruise along the river. You can enjoy some of the best food around and medieval sights galore. There are all kinds of museums. There's even some old neighborhoods where the staircases look as though they inspired M.C. Escher's art. There is a lot of beauty in and around Lyon.
In and around Lyon you will find numerous churches, cathedrals, castles, and even a convent. Some of the buildings are ancient and some of them are far more modern. Some of the castles are now hotels, so you can stay the night if you like. It's a great way to experience the French countryside.
Getting around the area is easy. You can take Euro-rail. You can take a cruise on the Rhone. You can drive. There are trams within the city. It's easy to get around the area, no matter how you choose to go. Remember, traveling in Western Europe is easy. They have dozens of ways to get you around.
Then, there is the art. There are tons of museums in Lyon. One thing that they do have is a tremendous art museum. Housed in those walls are works of some of the greatest masters in the world. The Louvre is great. Been there, done that. I loved it. But, once again, it's crowded and stuffy and impossible to see unless you take more than a week to look at it all. The museum in Lyon houses many works from all periods and is much more accessible and less crowded. You can still see Degas, the Dutch Masters, Van Gogh and so on. Remember, many of the French impressionists did much of their work in sunny Southern France. It's not far from Lyon.
One of the things that I love most about Lyon is the view to the future. They have world class opera, art, and architecture. The city has been in use for over 2,000 years. They have a Roman Amphitheater and ruins to visit. But, there are new things happening all over town. They have some of the most modern architecture in the country in Lyon. Brand new ideas from up and coming designers help the many layers of Lyon continue to grow. There are walking tours you can take to look at both the old and the new in Lyon.
Lyon is a scenic city with a lot to do, see, eat, and experience. There are also a lot of day trips from Lyon around the area. There are locks along the rivers to see, there are tiny villages around, there are vineyards to visit and wine to taste. One of the more amazing sites is Grottes du Cerdon or Caves of the Cerdon Valley. You can take a tour of the caves on one of those days when you're out in the area visiting a castle to get some nature in your visit. They are an amazing collection of caverns with crystals and formations to look at. It is a scenic and natural attraction in a land that is famous for its man made attractions.
While you're in France, you have to take some time to enjoy the countryside. I recommend staying in the countryside. Get a taste of what the outdoors is like. I always like to do that when I travel. The cities are great, but you get a truer sense of life when you spend a little time away from all the hustle and bustle of your chosen city.
Then, there's the main reason that I sent Alice to Lyon and the area. That was to see Perouges. Perouges is a great place to stay to get away from it all. It is a hilltop medieval village that still looks just the way it did in medieval times. You can shop there, wander there, sleep there, and eat there within its ancient walls.
Perouges is for the senses. It maintains its cobbled streets, its ancient buildings, and its way of life. There is nothing quite like a visit to an ancient town. You will feel like you've stepped back in time, and you will wonder if you're about to meet a knight in shining armor. Most likely you will find a great little bistro, some nice souvenirs and might get to see a performance set up for the travelers. What you won't find is the hustle and bustle of the city. What you won't find there is cars. What you will find there is a window into a long forgotten time.
There are many ways to spend some time in a long forgotten era in France. Paris is great, and I would never dispute that. Lyon is that place that seems as though it is an alternative. There are a lot of layers in Lyon and the surrounding area. It's an adventure to find and experience them all. I've enjoyed looking into it for my story, so that Alice can find herself, and her future. I hope that I get to go there someday. I want to see the art, the castles, the churches and cathedrals, the medieval villages, the caves and everything. I hope that someone else will take the opportunity to visit the area around Lyon as well and enjoy!
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