City Breaks In Lyon

Looking for a weekend away full of gastronomy and wine? Go no further than Beaujolais and the Rhône Valley; perfect for quick city breaks in Lyon or quiet retreats in luxury vineyard spa hotels. This write-up is from SmoothRed’s own Anna, who’s just returned from the region.

Just a couple of hours’ flight – or a pleasant Eurostar/TGV journey – away, this wonderful Lyon city break is set to become our favourite travel destination in 2017. Last week, I ventured there myself – and was not disappointed. From cosy, family-owned boutique accommodation to magnificent and stylish five-star hotels, this city has something for everyone.

My first afternoon was devoted to the traboules (from the Latin trabulare, meaning “to cross”), which are a series of hidden passageways, out of sight of the city’s oblivious tourists, running through the centre of Lyon, originally used by silk manufacturers and other merchants to transport their products. It’s commonly accepted that one cannot be a ‘true Lyonnaise’ without holding an intimate knowledge of the traboules – and they’re fantastic to explore by yourself or with a guide.

In the evening, I can’t recommend the local delicacies you can find at a traditional “bouchon”. On the menu you’ll find things such as offel, tongue and a whole smorgasbord of other tasty delights – granted, it might not be to everyone’s tastes.

On the second day, it’s good to escape the city of Lyon and head out into the beautiful countryside – with an experienced wine guide, of course. It won’t be long before you can find the endless Beaujolais Cru vineyards. During the day, you’ll visit three wine estates and meet the winemakers behind them – we, in particular, were lucky enough to visit Château de la Chaize, known for its 108-meter long vaulted cellar – the longest in the Beaujolais appellation.

On your final day, the gastronomical tour continues with the Les Halles Paul Bocuse – where we tasted Coussin de Lyon, a sweet specialty of Lyon, sauccisons including the aptly-named “Jesus sauccisson”, and the traditional bubblegum-pink praline tart.

Read more about this trip here.


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