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»gourmet cakes and pastries fill the coffee shops and
tearooms. The pink praline pie is one of our specialities
as well as the Lyonnais cushions by the Voisin
chocolate makers.
What’s your favourite way to get around?
Probably the subway as it avoids the traffic. The city is
very well served by buses, trams, shuttles and even a
funicular. Lyon also pioneered city bike rental – the
Vélo’v is available throughout the city and periphery.
Convenient and easy, cycling is a good way to explore
via the many bike paths. However, if you have time,
I think it’s nice just to walk around and take in the
charming streets and avenues, walkways and bridges.
What types of shop do you most like to visit?
As I might have mentioned once or twice, gastronomy
is important in Lyon and food shopping is, too! There
are plenty of shops selling local products in the historic
old town and Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse is a
covered market selling culinary specialities. For
fashion, homeware and anything else, the Part-Dieu is
one of the largest shopping centres in France and
Europe. The Part-Dieu tower next door is a symbolic
icon of the city.
Where do you like to escape to?
The mountains are not far and we have many lovely
lakes about an hour’s drive away. Pérouges is a warm
and welcoming medieval village I like to escape to for
a step back in time occasionally.
What has been your best discovery about your city?
This is such a deeply historical city that hides Roman
remnants such as the traboules (little secret passages
between the buildings in the old town), and it never
ceases to amaze me. The Rosa Mir garden is one of
these treasures you want to keep for yourself but need
to share because it’s such a fabulous place.
If there was one thing you could change about your
city, what would it be?
Since I lived in a port city, I do miss the vastness of the
ocean. Lyon would be an even better city if it were on
the coast, with a beach!
Where would you recommend somebody to stay?
The Presqu’île is probably the best place. It is the most
central point with restaurants, bars and cafés on every
corner and good transport options.
What keeps you in your city and where else would you
like to live?
I love my life here. My friends and family are in Lyon
and I enjoy my work as a photographer and my web
magazine. We have a great team of writers and get to
share all the best things about the city.
1 The Fontaine
Bartholdi in the
Place des Terraux.(^2) Pink praline brioches
in the Halles de Lyon
Paul Bocuse.
(^3) In deeptraboule:a
doorway in one of the
city’s Roman passages.
(^4) View from Le Jardin
des Chartreux.
(^5) Deli meats in the
Halles de Lyon.
(^6) The funicular will
take you up the hill to
Fourvière Basilica and
Le Parc des Hauteurs
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ESCAPE (^) | MY CITY