Another day stuck at Marseilles train station waiting for a train this time we are headed to Lyon. It’s a little under two hours once we get going. We are only here for two nights, one full day.

By the time we get to our hotel which is near the train station the day has passed and we’re really hungry. The location of our hotel is very close to Gard Lyon and a Westfield Shopping Centre. In fact you walk through the shopping centre to get to our hotel. There are a heap of restaurants on the top floor of the Centre and so we head back there to get some food in one of the pubs, it was pretty great actually.

We’ve got a few things on our list for Lyon and so our one day (and its a hot one at 36 degrees) starts early and finishes at a lovely Thai restaurant just around the corner from where we are staying.

I knew a few things about Lyon, that it’s called the Capital of Lights because of a light festival which goes for four days starting 8 December and that it was the third largest city France. But there were a few things that I had no idea about 🤨.

Did you know that there are a series of hidden streets called Traboules in Lyon?

Using the great public transport here (tram from our hotel and then the metro) we make our way to Old Town to see if we can find any of these hidden streets as well as take a good look at this wonderful part of Lyon.

My photos don’t do Old Town justice, it’s really lovely and cool in the shade. If it hadn’t been so hot and busy we would have spent more time here looking for these secret streets. There are about 400 throughout Lyon with about 40 open to the public. They are throughout neighbourhoods and so whilst it’s like a treasury hunt for tourists like ourselves, I can imagine that having people trampling near your home must get annoying from time to time. Having said that we were quietly high giving when we found a secret door that took us through a secret passageway leading to a courtyard with homes overlooking it. ‘Twas pretty amazing.

Did you know that you can see the Library of the city in Lyon without going to the library?

Painted in 1998, this fabulous mural is located over the river from Old Town at 6 Rue de la Platiere. It features 300 books with each book spine referencing famous authors, philosophers and figures connected to Lyon. I know it’s pretty cool!

Did you know that Lyon was the capital of France for more than 300 years ? And that a couple of Roman emperors were born here? The first was Roman Emperor Claudius on 1 August 10 BC and the second was Roman Emperor Caracalla in 188 AD.

Let’s see if we can find out more about the Romans (and others) by hitting the Bienvenue au musee des Beaux-Arts de Lyon.

The Musee has more than 5,000 years of history in this place. So well before and after the Roman Empire, and I loved it all but here are some of my favourites.

Did you know that there is a restaurant that has been 3 Michelin stars for more than 51 years?

As I am walking back to our hotel the side of a building had this picture of the famous French chef Paul Bocuse on it. The town is obviously very proud and rightly so.

If you’d like to make a booking you’ll need to book well in advance 🥂.

Lyon is another beautiful French city, with lots to do and see in it. We probably needed one more day here – maybe next time. Again getting around is so easy and the city is flat so it’s easy to walk around. Tomorrow we are jumping on the train headed for the French capital 🥖🍷⛪️.