September 10, 2018

Fort l'Écluse

Fort l’Écluse is a fortress near Bellegarde-sur-Valserine. It guards the Rhône valley between the Vuache hills and the Jura Mountains and is a natural entrance into France from Geneva. The fort was founded by the Duchy of Savoy in the 13th century and, after it was ceded to France along with the Pays de Gex during the reign of Louis XIV, completed by Vauban. It was destroyed by the Austrians in 1815, but was rebuilt by the French and considerably strengthened and heightened. The fort is open to visitors during summer.

September 6, 2018

Hike to Pertes de la Valserine, Fort l'Écluse, Rocher de Léaz & Pont de Grésin

Earlier this summer, I went on a hike in the Bellegarde-sur-Valserine area: I visited the Pertes de la Valserine, Fort l’Écluse, Rocher de Léaz and Pont de Grésin.

July 31, 2018

Jardin des Chartreux

Jardin des Chartreux is a park in the Croix-Rousse neighbourhood of Lyon. It offers a good view on the Saône below and the Fourvière hill.

July 30, 2018

Parc de la Tête d'Or

Parc de la Tête d’Or is a large park in the 6th arrondissement of Lyon. It has plenty of nature with many trees and large lawns as well as a lake. The park also contains a small zoo and a botanical garden (both of which are free).

July 27, 2018

La Part-Dieu neighbourhood in Lyon

La Part-Dieu is a neighbourhood in the 3rd arrondissement of Lyon, located around the Lyon-Part-Dieu train station. Beyond its importance as a major transport hub, La Part-Dieu is also the second-largest business district of France, with many office skyscrapers including Tour Incity, Tour Part-Dieu or Tour Oxygène. It also contains France’s largest shopping mall, La Part-Dieu Shopping Center.

July 24, 2018

Parc Blandan (Lyon)

Parc Blandan is a large park located in the 7th arrondissement of Lyon, on the location of a former military fort. While the park was inaugurated in 2014, the upper part of the fort, which contains the Château de la Motte, is currently being developed and is scheduled to open to the public in 2019.

May 16, 2018

Croix-Rousse Hill

La Croix-Rousse is the second major hill of the city of Lyon, as well as the name of a neighbourhood located on this hill. After crossing the Saône from the Fourvière area, I walked up the “montée de la Grande Côte”, a street that links the Place des Terreaux with the Croix-Rousse neighbourhood. I then went down towards the Rhône on the east side of the hill.

May 15, 2018

Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière

The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière is a large catholic church in Lyon. It was built between 1872 and 1884 on the Fourvière Hill in a dominant position overlooking the city.

May 14, 2018

Vieux Lyon / Fourvière Hill

The Fourvière Hill is the oldest inhabited part of the city of Lyon. At its foot, along the Saône river, is the Vieux Lyon (Old Town), a neighbourhood that dates from the middle ages. At the top of the hill, the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière and the Tour Métallique dominate the city. Ruins of a roman theatre are also located near those landmarks. To get there, a funicular is available but it also possible to take the stairs.

May 11, 2018

Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Lyon)

Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon is a Roman Catholic church located in the old town of Lyon. It was completed in the 15th century.

rhone