Perouges and Lyon
Posted by Anura Samara, 18 April 2015
Driving in the French countryside, with a couple of destinations in mind.
We decided to hire a car and stay a bit closer to home this weekend.
Perouges
The last time we had been in Perouges was back in 1996 with the kids. So while we know the basics – well-preserved medieval village – I didn’t really have many memories of the place.
Perouges is small but self-contained. Driving towards it, it just seems like any other French countryside and even though it’s on a small hill, you can’t really see it as you approach.But once you enter the walls, it really is like being in a different time. The buildings are all old but mostly well-preserved, the lanes are all cobbled and there was only one or two old cars within the walls.
There’s the typical central square with a few cafes and restaurants, shops along the lanes (but even the tourist shop is subdued) and some workshops – in one, we watched a guy making paper from scratch. Unfortunately, the museum was initially closed for a private function and then when we returned it was closed over lunch (in typical French fashion). But by lunchtime we’d already been around two to three times so we decided to pack up and leave.
Lyon
This was our second visit to Lyon – after having spent a weekend there, we really only went to extend our drive and to see some more of the countryside.
We headed straight into the heart of the city and parked underground. This time, the weather was a lot warmer and people were out everywhere. It makes a huge difference to how you perceive a place when it’s warm and the locals are out.
As our memories were fresh, we really stayed within the central area. Starting from Place Bellcour, we crossed the bridge to have a look inside the Cathedrale Sainte-Jean-Baptiste (which we’d missed the last time), strolling along the narrow lanes in the old town to recross the river again.
Categories: France
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