Lyon: France’s culinary gateway to the Alps

Dark and mysterious, Lyon’s traboules are like secret passageways to another time and place. Do some detective work to find their secret doorways yourselves, or hire a guide who can fill you in on the fascinating history behind this hidden part of the Old City. Every day is Valentine’s Day at Au 14 Février, a tiny restaurant with mirrored ceilings featuring a “cuisine Française made in Japan.” A favourite dish for sharing—Waffles with Mustard Sauce in Egg Shell.

Learn about filmmaking with the use of miniatures at the Musée Miniature et Cinéma. It features everything from Stuart Little to Star Trek, along with hyper-realistic miniatures and movie sets by Dan Ohlmann and others. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon in the city that invented cinema. The Parc de la Tête d’Or is a beautiful expanse of green with a lake for boating, horseback riding, a boules court, mini- golf and a miniature train. Rent bicycles and be sure to visit the giraffes, elephants and tigers at the zoo.

Learn about the history of the silk industry at the Maison des Canuts—the loom demonstration is a highlight. Pick up some silky souvenirs from the boutique at the end of the tour. Or perhaps your group prefers their history lessons short and sweet—and illustrated? Check out the Fresque des Lyonnais, a seven-storey mural depicting 30 of the city’s famous figures, including loom inventor Joseph Marie Jacquard, master chef Paul Bocuse, puppet Guignol and The Little Prince.