Lyon is an amazing city and has plenty to offer. It is the gastronomic capital of France and Le Vieux Lyon, the city’s oldest district, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. However, there are also many beautiful places to visit around Lyon and in this post, I am going to share with you my 10 favourites.
1. Le palais du Facteur Cheval - 67 minutes from Lyon
The Palais idéal is an absolute gem. It was built in Hauterives by one man alone: the postman Ferdinand Cheval (1836-1924). Cheval spent thirty-three years of his life building his palace in his garden. André Breton, Pablo Picasso, Robert Doisneau among others admired and recognised his construction.
2. Le monastère de la Grande Chartreuse - 90 minutes from Lyon
This is the head monastery of the Carthusian religious order. It is located in the Chartreuse Mountains, in Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse. Visitors are not permitted to go inside the monastery. However, there are some lovely walks nearby as well as a museum (https://www.musee-grande-chartreuse.fr/fr/)
3. Le Cirque de Saint Même - 1 hour and 43 minutes from Lyon (34 minutes away from the Monastery)
The Cirque de Saint-Même is a natural amphitheatre with some spectacular waterfalls. It is a lovely place where families can go for a picnic and enjoy the freshness of the river in the summertime.
4. Le parc des oiseaux - 34 minutes from Lyon
The Parc des Oiseaux is a zoological park located in Villars-les-Dombes. It is one of the oldest ornithological parks in France (it opened in 1970) and brings together a collection of more than 3,000 birds from around the world in a reserve located in the heart of the Dombes.
5. Le site archéologique de Larina- 57 minutes from Lyon
The site of Larina is an archaeological site located in Hières-sur-Amby. The site contains many remains of its occupation during several periods from the Bronze Age to the High Middle Ages. It has lovely views of the valley and overlooks the Rhône by 200m.
6. Crémieu - 42 minutes from Lyon
Crémieu is a small medieval village. It hosts a celebration called "Les Médiévales" every year in September, which reconstitutes the lifestyle of the Middle Ages. They have a lively market on Wednesday mornings.
7. Vienne - 30 minutes from Lyon
Vienne is located on both sides of the Rhône river. Vienne’s area inherited the richness of a past going back up to the Gallo-Roman’s time. There are many remains of these ancient times around the city and its area. I strongly recommend "The Jazz à Vienne Festival". It has been celebrating the world of jazz for the first fortnight in July since 1981.
8. Pérouges - 33 minutes from Lyon
Pérouges is a small medieval village perched on a small hill that overlooks the plain of the river Ain.
9. Les grottes de la Balme - 43 minutes from Lyon
Visited since 1807, the Caves of La Balme are magnificent and can be visited all year long with a temperature between 12 & 15 degrees (a good plan for a hot summer!)
10. La cascade de Glandieu - 60 minutes from Lyon
Cascade de Glandieu is a picturesque waterfall in the small village of Glandieu. It is composed of two successive falls with a total of 60 meters in height.
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