Hi experienced travelers,
I will be traveling with my three girls (6, 7 and 9) from Lyon to Paris from April 6-14 and was wondering what would be at the top of your lists of things to do, keeping in mind that most museums are probably out and outdoor activities/adventures (even as simple as great outdoor parks and hikes) will be better. We would also like to see a couple of castles. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Lyon has a beautiful park that has a nice Zoo area and botanical gardens, etc. Here is a link to a basic description to the park. Also, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is a great church to see as it sits above the city with a great view.
https://thisislyon.fr/things-to-do/parks-and-recreation/parc-de-la-tete-dor/
This isn’t clear: do you live in Lyon and you are taking the children for a week in Paris, or are you looking for stops between Lyon and Paris by car? The first answer assumed you were looking for activities in Lyon.
We're skiing for a week in Avoriaz, then driving from Lyon to Paris over 5-8 days, depending on what we find to do. We have Lyon pretty much planned out, but I was wondering if anyone had ideas of places to visit while we're driving between the two cities, like great castles to check out, interesting scenery, especially cute villages to walk around, etc. Anything that will keep the whining to a minimum. ;)
I think time in Lyon would be worthwhile if you haven't been there before. There's a textile museum that might be of interest to the girls, plus many other museums on a variety of topics. And Old Lyon is very atmospheric. It is a great city with a lot more points of interest than most places in France that are not Paris.
I see from ViaMichelin that driving by way of Troyes would add about an hour to your total driving time. The historic center of Troyes is full of half-timbered buildings--many of them hysterically tilted--and virtually no foreign tourists even in mid-summer. Incredibly picturesque and not a tour group in sight, just individual French tourists who obviously know a good thing. Highly recommended.
Adding another 40 minutes of driving would allow you to include Provins, which I gather is a picturesque medieval town. I have never been there.
Dijon (much closer to Lyon) is near the route I'm suggesting.
I'm sure the more westerly (shorter) route also has good options; I just haven't been that way.
Well, Chateau La Rochepot (south of Beaune) is fun, and Beaune and Vezeley are fairytale charming (Vezeley quite stunning). More to the point, these places are small and digestible, which might suit.
There are walks all over France--Vezeley is on the pilgrimage route--but between Lyon and Paris is quire rural. Is that good for you?
I think you should weigh the whole thing against ditching the car in Lyon and taking the train--the marvelous, frequent, super fast and thrilling train--to Paris from Lyon. 2 hrs. if you need suggestions for other places to go, let us know your whole itinerary. Many great daytrips from Paris though (by train).
The Solutre Rock https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_of_Solutré is a well-known walk to do. There is a museum of prehistory halfway up, and an ancient breed of horses in fields next to the path. From what I’ve read here there is now a safety fence at the top.
The prehistoric caves of D’Arcy-sur-Cure are close by with a 25,000 year-old hand print of a five year-old. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caves_of_Arcy-sur-Cure
The Basilica in Vezelay kept my kids interested with the carvings, but there’s also space outside In the side yard to run around and play and a picnic area down the path behind.
The town of Noyers-sur-Serein is still walled and has a lot of half-timbered buildings.
Guedelon is your best stop (40 minutes off the autoroute), a medieval fortified castle being constructed using medieval methods, tools (except for two safety additions). Everyone is dressed in period dress, all crafts and trades are open for you to visit, for example: stone cutting, wool dying, farming, etc all with medieval tools and methods.
Two other chateaux in the Yonne region are luxury castles, not crenellated fortifications: Ancy-le-Franc and Tanlay.
Wow. Thanks for all the great suggestions!
I second Bets' recommendation of Guedelon. There's enough different things going on there that there'll probably be something of interest for each of your girls.
I found the Cure Valley cave to be a big disappointment.
I third the recommendation of a Guedelon. No thrill rides but it’s a historic version of Disneyland,. From watching stops being cut and hoisted by hand to a blacksmith shaping tools on his anvil, your kids will be mesmerized by a real castle being built. Most likely you will too. I was there 10 years ago, returned 5 years ago and hope to go back next year.
