Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Welcome to the Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Destination Guides

bthere! Destination guides

Previous issues for Lyon

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy,
please confirm event/venue details in advance.

France : Lyon - January 2010

Country Code: Dial for France

Savvy shoppers from far and wide flock to the city this month, as the winter sales hit the streets of Lyon. Fast becoming a mecca for everything from fashion to interior design shopping, visitors will find it hard to avoid the temptation to take home a souvenir. John Brown reports

Getting around

Saint Exupéry Airport

Bus: There is the Satobus every 20 minutes to and from the airport. Buses run from 5.35am to 11.40pm, seven days a week. A single ticket to the city costs €8.60 and the journey takes about 50 minutes.
Taxi: A taxi to the city centre costs approximately €50 during the day and €65 at night, taking around 45 minutes.
Tourist information: The main tourist office is located at Place Bellecour (tel. , en. www.lyon-france.com).

LE PLATEAUX DE LA CROIX ROUSSE

Croix Rousse, also called the “working hill”, was home to silk workers known as les Canuts. The daily street market along the main boulevard adds to the conviviality of this villagey quarter, perched on the hilltop overlooking Lyon.

Must eat – Mon Père était Limonadier (9 Rue Justin Godart, tel. ) has a quirky, fun feel and offers refined cuisine served with a smile. Try the Sunday brunch at Le Canut sans Cervelle (4 bis Rue de Belfort, tel. ), offering everything from kedgeree to continental dishes.

Must drink – L’Atmosphère (9 Montée des Carmélites, tel. ) is a cool, well-connected Lyon bar which is also a café and concert venue with regular live acts.

Shop til you drop – Braderie du Chariot d’Or (25 Braderie du Chariot d’Or) is quite a novel concept – you can find discounts of up to 90% on beauty products, accessories, perfumes and jewellery, as well as clothing and great little gifts.

SAINT PAUL AND SAINT GEORGES

The thread of churches and cathedrals running along the Saône river make up the historic old town of Lyon. Its cobbled streets are lined with bouchons offering local pork-based specialities.

Sleep soundly – Villa Florentine (25 Montée Saint Barthélemy, tel. , villaflorentine.com, rooms from €230) is definitely for those wishing to pull out all the stops. Expect four-star quality and comfort, plus the best views over Lyon.

Culture vultures – Wander through the courtyards and traboules (passageways) hidden behind the Auberge du Gouvernement’s elegant façade (2 Place du Gouvernement). The recently restored building is full of historical and architectural surprises. While Hôtel Laurencin (24 Rue Saint Jean) is another elegant example of renaissance architecture not to be missed.

Must eat – Diners in Lyon will never be short of choice regarding local specialities. However, should you want a change but still fancy French cuisine, try Happy Friends Family (29 Rue du Boeuf, tel. ).

CORDELIERS

Centrally located and surrounded by a myriad of the finest monuments in the city, including the recent glass-fronted façade of the Grand Bazaar.

Sleep soundly – Expect to pay around €75 at the centrally located Hôtel Bayard (23 Place Bellecour, tel. , hotelbayard.fr, rooms from €69). Ask for a room with (spectacular) views over the Place Bellecour.

Must eat – Grand Café des Négociants (1 Place Francis Régaud, tel. ) is the ultimate French brasserie dining experience. Local specialities are served up with an outstanding wine list. If rustic is your thing, then you should try Le Jura (25 Rue Tupin, tel. ) for a steaming plate of andouilletes (tripe sausages) which might sound gruesome but do as the locals do and you won’t go far wrong.

Shop til you drop – Zig-zag your way down the side streets off Rue de la République and Rue Edouard Herriot, and sniff out a bargain. The sales flourish throughout January – everything from Armani to Zara.

LES BERGES DU RHÔNE

Stroll the recently developed banks of the Rhône, with its barge cafés and walkways, for a quiet respite overlooking the city.

Must drink – L’Horloge (Boulevard des Brotteaux, tel. ). Unwind over a drink or two, while watching the bustle of the city pass you by.

Dance the night away – Le Sirius (21 Quai Augagneur, tel. ) is a lively quayside dance floor, fuelled by the house rum cocktails. Live bands really help to get the boat rocking.

Shop til you drop – The side streets off the Place Gambetta offer a plethora of Oriental outlets, including eateries and gift shops. And the food stores encompass the four corners of the globe. Stock up on treats at Lyon’s finest chocolatier, Bernachon (42 Cours Franklin Roosevelt).

Compiled by John Brown