Hi,
12 May
Is it too ambitious to have a look at the cathedral with only 4 hours before catching the next train (Barcelona - Lyon - Paris).
Stop in Lyon 13:20h-17:22h.
How to best do it?
Is walking one way and taxi back an option?
Is food to take away available at the Lyon Part Dieu station? Thinking of nourishment for the onward journey to Paris.
Did this some time ago. There was luggage storage at Part Dieu, but you did have to go through airport-type detector, as they were making sure no bombs being stored in the lockers. Used the Lyon Metro to get around and bought some baguette sandwiches at the station before boarding our continuing train.
Thanks, so how much time would you say you need with detectors - meaning how much time left to leave the train station without fretting to miss the next train?
I was considering a lugggage storage close to the train station not necessarily inside , if available.
I seem to recall about 5 minutes when storing the bags, as those had to be X-rayed. Pick up was quick as just walking through a metal detector to enter the locker room.
We took the Metro "B" line to the 2nd stop (Saxe-Gambetta) and changed to the Metro "D" line to the Cathedral stop. That was a matter of minutes.
I'm curious if you could clarify what edifice you're interested in visiting.
The Primatiale Saint-Jean de Lyon is commonly referred to as Cathédral Saint-Jean. It's where Lyon's archdiocese is located. It has a complex and interesting astronomical clock, if you find that sort of thing of interest.
However, most tourists seem more focused on seeing the somewhat more gaudy Basilique de Notre-Dame de Fourvière, up the hill from Vieux Lyon and near the Roman ampitheatres.
To which are you referring when you mention "the cathedral?"
As for food, there are several places to get food in Gare Part-Dieu, but the range of options is somewhat limited. However, directly across the street from the train station (west side: Boulevard Marius Vivier Merle) is one of the largest shopping centers in France with dozens of restaurants serving many types of food from many cultures.
Thanks Bob, I admit that I only noticed yesterday that there are those two options.
I will see if I can combine a visit to both of them.
I mainly want to get a general feel of the place - as much as you can in 4 hours.
Prefered way of moving around would be on foot or better by bike. I found velib city bikes, but the tarriffs seem to add to quite some if you stop and go without ending and re-renting and it seems that their app needs to be installed etc.
Update:Google maps Cathedral closed on Mondays (interesting for a house of worship), Basilica Open.
Might be too late, but I'd recommend taking the funicular up to Fourvière and then walking downhill for your return to the main part of the city by taking the wooded zig-zagging path through Parc des Hauters. It's a pleasant walk, and much easier headed east than west.
Yes, Isaw the furnicular. Looks as if zou can use it with a public transport ticket. I hope there is a helpful person around the train station to point us into the right direction and thge ticket machines and options.
Picture of the entrance to the Metro and Funiculars at Vieux Lyon.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lyon,+France/@45.7599389,4.8265387,3a,30y,283.17h,88.71t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s7IcTixVCoXN4KgA5j2wHRg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D1.2862731152848%26panoid%3D7IcTixVCoXN4KgA5j2wHRg%26yaw%3D283.1676036003145!7i16384!8i8192!4m6!3m5!1s0x47f4ea516ae88797:0x408ab2ae4bb21f0!8m2!3d45.764043!4d4.835659!16zL20vMGRwcmc?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUwNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
If you take the Metro from Part Dieu, you will arrive in the Funicular station. If you want to walk and bike back to Part Dieu. you have that option, but remember you have a train to catch and you need to reclaim your luggage and buy some snacks before hand.
