A two-hour train ride from Paris and less than a one-hour drive from Mâcon, Lyon is brimming with French art de vivre. Culture, gastronomy, and wine tourism in the vineyards of the Rhone Valley and Beaujolais. And in case you needed another opportunity to tuck into some bugnes or the famous sausage brioche, every year in December Lyon dons fairytale colours in the Festival of Lights.
DINNER IS SERVED!
In 2015, this iconic restaurant, 50 minutes from the Tour de France in Mâcon, celebrated its 50th anniversary and third Michelin star: it is the promise of a delicious journey through the great classics of French cuisine. Lobster salad, sea bass in Choron sauce, not to mention VGE truffle soup, which hasn’t left the menu since it first appeared in 1975.
GO CULTURAL
The Confluences Museum in Lyon tells the story of humanity across 3000m². In summer 2019 it is hosting several temporary exhibitions, including “Yokainoshima: spirits of Japan”, which offers an immersive journey through Japanese gods and monsters.
GET ACTIVE
Less than 100km from Lyon, there’s an original way to discover Pilat Nature Park: by mounting your off-road scooter! Valérie takes nature lovers along an authentic, rural tour... before a meal of local cuisine at the mountain inn.
TOUR TRIVIA
This year, St-Etienne will have welcomed the Tour de France on 25 occasions, crowning famous winners like Bobet, Herrera and Hinault. Indeed, in 1986, Le Blaireau (the Badger, nickname of Bernard Hinault) stole a memorable time-trial win in a fierce duel with Greg LeMond, who would win his first Tour de France a few days later.
EXPERIENCE
Amongst the big names in wine in the Drôme, Maison M. Chapoutier stands tall. Founded in Tain l’Hermitage in 1808, it offers a range of tastings and workshops followed by lunch or dinner, to discover this historic biodynamic vineyard, a one-hour train ride south of Lyon.