Lyon: A City of Contrasts

On the one hand, Lyon is one of the oldest cities in France tracing its roots to before the Gallo Roman Empire, with a large and winding old town. Streets with traboules, hidden passageways which aided the French Resistance during WWII. On the other, you have a city with the newer region, The Confluences, with sleek new buildings and modern conveniences, a shopping mall overlooking the Rhone. In Lyon, the Rhône and Saône rivers meet. Lyon is also known as capital of cuisine in a country that makes food an art form. The city itself is quieter than one might expect because of its size, easily navigated, as well as a transportation hub. Lyon was also under construction and renewal while we were there so transportation by tram was impacted significantly.

Lyon is home to a lovely Musée des Beaux Arts . . .

The museum is also the home of Rodin’s The Kiss, a favorite of Dana’s.

And . . . Busch Gardens has nothing on the city of Lyon—it even has giraffes in the park and a funicular to the top of the hill.