- Lyonnais cushions were invented by Voisin chocolatiers to mark the procession in Fourvière of 1643, when the aldermen of Lyon carried a 7lb wax
candle and a gold crown on a cushion to implore the Virgin Mary to save the city from the plague. A box of Roses would probably have sufficed. 63
ESCAPE (^) | MY CITY
How long have you lived in the city?
IwasborninLyon.ImovedtoPortowhenIwas25
tostudyandbecomeaprofessionalphotographerbut
afterfiveyearsImissedmybeautifulcity.When
Icamebackitwasverydifferent,someoftheold
districtshadbeenmodernisedandwerecompletely
transformed.Ireturnedwithafreshviewandnow
Ireallyenjoylivingandworkinghere.
Tell us what makes your city unique.
Lyonhasastrongcultureandidentityhistorically,
economically and gastronomically. Walking around
thecityislikepassingthroughtime,fromthe
Gallo-Romanremainstothemedievaloldtown,the
Renaissancearchitectureandthecontemporary
buildingsofLyoninLaConfluence.It’sametropolis
andthepaceoflifecanfeelintensebutwealsoloveto
takeourtimeandstrollinthemarkets,enjoyourcoffee
shopsanddiscoverthemanymuseums.Weloveour
foodandfilm–Lyonisthebirthplaceofcinemaand
thereareeventsthroughouttheyearincludingthe
LumièreFilmFestival,namedafterthebrothers
who invented cinematography here.
What is it like in April?
It’s the beginning of spring and the city is brightly
coloured and full of flowers. The buildings are
illuminatedbythesunandtableclothsareoutreadyfor
thefirstalfrescomeals.Itmakesmewanttogooutfor
ice-creamandtherearesomeglaciers(ice cream
vendors) in the old town worth checking out.
What time of day do you most enjoy?
Theendoftheworkingdaywheneveryonegathersin
wine bars or coffee shops, at outdoor and indoor sports
classes,forshoppingoreveningworkshops.InLyon
we continue the day on a playful note until night-time.
What’s the nature like?
Lyoniscrossedbytworivers,theRhôneandtheSaône,
andtheyplayanimportantroleinthedynamicsofthe
city.Thecitycentreisonapeninsula,calledthe
Presqu’île(‘almostisland’),surroundedbytherivers.
Theeasternpartofthecityisagreatplain,idealfora
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- There’s no better way to get to the heart
of a city than through the people who live
there. Every month we ask someone,
clearly in love with their city, to take us on
a personal tour and tell us what makes it
so special. You may feel inspired to visit
one day or to redsicover the charms of a
coty clower to you, but for now jut sit back,
relax and enjoy some vicarious travel.
(^1) A view across the
Saône to the cathedral
and old town.
(^2) Lyon’s imposing
city hall and square.
(^3) Colourful buildings
in the old town.
(^4) Heartworks: street
artinCroix-Roussehill.
(^5) Chocolatier Voisin
invented the Lyonnais
cushion* made from
chocolate and
marzipan
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