We were in Lyon for the Fête des Lumières, or the Festival of Lights, which is an annual Christmas event that sees the city completely illuminated in art installations. Spanning between the nights of December 5th to 8th, it is one of Lyon's busiest festivals, with visitors from all over France and abroad in town to explore the city's magical atmosphere.
My sister and I arrived in Lyon late Saturday afternoon after a long and adventurous journey back from Yssingeaux (we somehow encountered a regional train strike, which led to numerous delays, and an unnecessary stop in St. Etienne, all with 7+ bags of luggage in tow). Our Airbnb flat was located in Vieux Lyon, Lyon's Renaissance district, on Rue Juiverie - a historic, winding cobblestone lane dating back to the 14th century. As you can see in some of the photos below, the apartment was stunning. Intricate crown moulding, high ceilings, a marble fireplace and mantle, and of course, a modern Scandinavian/French aesthetic, it was more beautiful than we could have ever hoped. What made our stay however, was the generosity of our hosts - on the kitchen table waiting for us was a beautiful spread of saucisson de Lyon, a fresh baguette, a bottle of red wine and the traditional French aperatif, Ricard.
Our stay in Lyon happened to overlap with my oldest friend and her boyfriend's travels, who were backpacking through Europe. As well, her brother and his girlfriend who live in London came down for the weekend, making our trip a wonderful reunion. We were in Lyon for four days, and spent most of our time exploring the city; hiking up la Croix-Rousse for the gorgeous views and Christmas markets; buying fresh produce at the farmer's markets along the river; and wandering through the Festival of Lights with a full cup of vin chaud.
On our last day in Lyon, my sister and I spent the morning at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon. There is a beautiful courtyard located within the museum grounds, an oasis from the bustling Place des Terreaux just outside the walls. I try to always go to a museum or art gallery when visiting a new city, and the great thing about this museum is that it is free for anyone under 26 - something Toronto's cultural attractions need to consider.
As per usual, I took a lot of photos. I hope you enjoy!
