Lyon has long been recognized as France’s second city, although it is known worldwide as a center of gastronomy. Paul Bocuse, the famous chef, has kept Lyon in the limelight over the last 30 years but Lyon has been putting quality meals together for hundreds of years.
We were in tears as we checked out of our suite at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Martinez and then boarded our TGV bound for Lyon.
And in four short hours we were checked into our 16th century apartment in Lyon’s medieval old city. Here is the front door to our accomodation (it’s the wooden door immediately to the left of the pharmacy).
We came to call this our torture chambre.
Unfortunately if you want to stay in or close to the old city you have very limited choices. So we picked this place off the internet based on reviews and pictures and were disappointed in the actual accomodation but not the location. When we stepped out of our front door we were in the middle of Vieux Lyon. So that was fantastic, we just wanted something better inside.
We spent the rest of the day wandering around Lyon city which initially looked a bit grim. The railway station is awful and the area it sits in is even worse. The whole area just needs to be leveled and start over. But Lyon itself looked pretty good. This is the super large Place Bellecour at the center of Lyon.
We walked over to the Marché Bocuse, which was founded by Paul Bocuse and there we found some delectables.
And these amazing jellied fruits.
Paul Bocuse looms so large in Lyon that he even appears larger than life outside the market. He’s like the Charlie Trotter of Lyon.
We also walked past the beautiful City Hall which was proudly flying the Tricolor.
And then as the sun set we found this beautiful vista overlooking the Saône River. Lyon sits at the confluence of the Saône and the Rhône.
In the evening we had booked reservations at a well-known Lyon restaurant called Cafe Comptoir Abel.
Where we dined on pan-fried chicken in a morel sauce with rice pilaf. Amazing dish and so simple.
We also had to try the dauphinoise potatoes. Yum.
Over all a good first day in Lyon!