Pierre Laurent, auteur à Lyon Secret

In the morning, it's curiosity that gets me out of bed... come on! The deal is simple: let you discover what needs to be seen and, at the same time, let you sit up as little as possible. My hobbies: culture from A to Z and escapades from north to south.

At 35 kilometers long and reminiscent of a Scandinavian fjord, this lake—just 1 hour and 45 minutes from Lyon—seems like the perfect destination for this summer: access to its beaches is free

Its emerald blue waters wind through the green, rolling forests of the Jura. Its origins may be man-made, but you can’t help but think that nature always has good taste when it comes to blending colors. A...

Culture Things to do

With a crypt dating back to the 9th century, this church is often considered the oldest in Lyon. In fact, it was among the first buildings in France to be designated as historic monuments as early as 1840

Often overshadowed by the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, this church is actually much older. Fourvière was completed in 1896—“barely” 130 years ago—while this one can boast of being 10 times older....

Escapes Things to do

Located 40 kilometers from Lyon, this village nestled along the Rhône and on the mountainside is home to a Romanesque church and one of the region’s most remarkable murals, which has been classified as a historic monument for over 100 years

Our villages are the true treasure of our heritage. It’s impossible not to be moved by thousand-year-old structures, such as the priory of Tournus or that of Pommiers-en-Forez. And what about the medieval...

Food & drink Things to do

600 kilos and 4 meters in diameter… this weekend, Lyon will be the scene of the world’s largest praline tart record attempt

While the World Cup is in full swing with a highly anticipated Paraguay vs. France match this weekend, Lyon is gearing up for a very different competition. More local, certainly, but no less exciting, and...

Culture Escapes Things to do

Located 25 kilometers from Lyon, this medieval town is a veritable open-air museum. Designated, among other things, as a “City of Arts and Crafts,” it joined the very exclusive ranks of the Michelin Guide this year as one of France’s “Most Beautiful Detours.”

Lyon is the capital of gastronomy, but did you know that about twenty kilometers to the north lies a town that was also, for many years, the capital of a principality—just like Monaco is today? Its name a...

Culture Secret Guides

Given its history, its size, and its architect, this fountain in the heart of Lyon is often considered one of the most beautiful in France

The threads of history and water have always run parallel. In Lyon, more than anywhere else. The Rhône and the Saône, of course, but what about the ancient aqueducts, the riverbanks, its bridges, and rema...

Food & drink Things to do

In Lyon, this iconic restaurant is the only one to have retained all of its century-old Art Nouveau charm

In Lyon, history is as much to be savored as it is to be experienced. As befits a gastronomic capital, our city is dotted with places that let you travel back in time with every bite. From historic boucho...

Escapes Things to do

Just an hour from Lyon, this thousand-year-old, fairy-tale-like site is tucked away in a tiny village of barely 350 residents—several kings, including Francis I, stayed there

We’ll never tire of poring over our maps of France in search of new treasures just outside Lyon. We continue our tour of the Grand Dukes’ sites, and after visiting the priory of Tournus and that of Ambron...

Escapes Secret Guides Things to do

Just an hour from Lyon, these caves hold natural treasures along a trail where the ambient temperature hovers around 14 °C and even drops to 4 °C in some spots!

Okay, okay, we invented vanilla ice cream cones and USB fans to combat heat waves, but no matter what we do, we’ll always be one step behind Mother Nature. Since the dawn of time, she’s managed to pull ti...

Culture Things to do

A breathtaking journey into space inspired by NASA missions is set to open soon in Lyon, and it certainly looks like the immersive revolution everyone has been waiting for

A journey into space… That’s the dream many of us would love to fulfill one day. But let’s be realistic: before we can reach for the stars alongside astronauts of our own making, we’ll have to be patient...