"Weekend" Trip to Lyon, France

We decided to take a short trip to a locale which could be reached directly from our nearby airport in the Algarve.  In the summer, Faro airport has flights coming in from all over Europe, but right now, our choices are a bit more limited.  We easily chose Lyon, as it is a city well-known for its wonderful French food and one that Debra and I visited over 20 years ago.

Historic Lyon

On our first full day in Lyon, we took a guided walking city tour.  We learned that the Lyon has been occupied since Roman times as it was on the central trade route from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe.  

In medieval times, the city was best known for its vast factories of silk weavers.  On the hills of Lyon, the Roman ruins and many medieval buildings still exist today.  At the bottom of the hills, Renaissance and Modern Lyon are on the banks of the Saone and Rhone Rivers.  ​

At the top of the hills above Lyon, is the ​Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, built in the late 1800s.  It has towering views and can be seen from just about anywhere in Lyon, day or night.

And did we mention the food?

Let's face it.  Lyon was our choice primarily because of their food.  While we do enjoy Portuguese food, we do long for other cuisines, and for French food, it doesn't get any better than this.  The city has hundreds of eating establishments called "bouchons", which tend to serve hearty and accessible foods at (fairly) reasonable prices.

Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse

The late chef Paul Bocuse (1926 - 2018) is synonymous with fine dining in Lyon.  His eponymous restaurant just outside of Lyon held three Michelin stars for over 50 years.  Debra and I dined there on our last visit to Lyon.  Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse is an amazing indoor gourmet food market which serves the city's finest restaurants and individual patrons.  Truffles, fresh oysters, foie gras, meats, fish, cheese, sweets, produce, Les Halles has the best of French gastronomy.

Restaurant La Sommeliere (1 Michelin Star)

Our fine dining adventure for the trip was at La Sommeliere, a one-star Michelin restaurant with only 12 seats.  The owner and chef are both young Japanese but have made a name for themselves in Lyon.  The food and the experience were fabulous.

We had a great time in Lyon!