Streets squares and districts to visit Rhône-Alpes

At Montluçon, the area that has the most attraction is the old Montluçon. Its castle overlooking the city, its streets, its houses, its architecture… What remains today of the once fortified city is charming. Monltuçon is a charming city and is visiting its old quarter, and then we walk there on its great boulevard where traders compete with generosity and kindness!

Know everything about the decor. A dream decor, since it is the splendid Stadium of the Alps. Who did not want to go to the changing rooms, to trample on the lawn or to enter the Honorary lodge of this impressive arena? This allows you to visit a guided tour which leads us behind the scenes. From its glass roof of 18 000 m ² to its lounges, through all the technical equipment, the building reveals many surprises. An unusual tour recommended by the Smart.

With its traboules, architectural curiosities and mythical Théâtre de Guignol, Vieux-Lyon is one of the most entertaining historic sites to visit with family. Accompanied by a certified guide lecturer assigned by the tourist office of the city, venture with your children in this play-based and informative walk. Watch the signs, the street names or the details of a few monuments, and head gradually towards the Astronomical Clock of the Cathédrale Saint-Jean… After an hour and a half walking, children and adults will have learned much more about the history of this neighbourhood.

Rate: €12 per adult, €7 at reduced rate (children from 8 to 18 years old and students).

Duration: 1h30.

Difficulty: easy.

Other practical information: schedule of visits available on the www.visiterlyon.com website. Mandatory reservation. Be there 10 minutes before the departure of the visit. Visit accessible from 6 years and limited to 20 people. Compulsory presence of an adult companion for each child.

This street, characteristic of the medieval period, was once the home of the butchers' guild. It is paved and has kept its central gutter. Beautiful half-timbered houses, whose floors are sometimes built in corbelling, are built on both sides. Large basket-handle bays open onto the street and recall its commercial vocation. The Butcher's house (^15th century) and the Dean's house (^16th century) have kept their stone stalls. At the bottom of the street, you can see the Romanesque door of the Boucheries, a vestige of the first enclosure.

If the term clauzel refers to a small enclosure in languedocien, this place was, until 1654, a cemetery where the poor of the hotel-dieu were buried. Every Saturday from 7:00 a. m. to 1:00 p. m., a brocante market is organized here. The tourist office is located on this square, in the immediate vicinity of the city hall. Completely renovated and recently inaugurated, this place was recently a parking lot… Today it is paved, shops have emerged, and the terraces of nearby coffees enjoy this embellish.

The Romanesque church, ancient chapel of a castle destroyed in the th century, is worth a visit for its remarkable collection of th century frescoes representing Christ in Glory and his apostles. You will be able to take a tour of the old mills.

Small pedestrian streets serving garden gardens protected by high walls and suitable for a pleasant stroll.

The historic centre is bordered by the streets of the Church, the Station and Colombier. On the central square, a tower is erected around the th century, and it has given its name to the village. The village was built around the church tower (demolished in 1870), which the inhabitants called the castle. Several houses had their utility, such as suel, where we were fighting wheat or chenevrier, where hemp was stored. Each farmer had a cella or a cellar, where he could take refuge in the event of an attack by robbers. Some of these homes still exist. This old quarter is to be seen or reviewed by a sunny Sunday or on the occasion of the annual festival of the Old Hamlet. The old linden, which will take you back to you, dates back to the th century.

Village visits. In July and August, and during the Easter holidays, the tourist office organizes guided tours of 3 or 4 km every Wednesday. The days were divided into two activities: site visits in the morning and/or discovery of a commune in the afternoon. From May, it is also possible to register for a guided tour of the Arbresle from 1 am to 2 pm, the second Sunday of the month. The meeting is set at 15 pm in front of the museum. It will mention the origins of the city, its famous men, the constructions of the Middle Ages, the history of the......

Discover the park, the City hall, the presbytery, the old bridge on the Garon…

The Saint-Dominique district stretches from the Avenue of the United States to Rue Gabriel-Perished, and although not part of the central plateau, it remains an important place in the city. A relatively calm and pleasant place in the day, with its terraces avenantes in semi-pedestrian streets, it agite at night. Among its special features are its impressive number of restaurants of all kinds and of all horizons, its nightclubs and its places of pleasure… St. Dominic's Street is still very strongly associated with prostitutes who have made it their favourite place since the closure of brothels after the war. Let's also mention the presence of the Ambiances, a little cinema art and trial, that the chance of circumstances has made some sort of revival of its ashes after various events. Côté Jaude, the rue des Minimes leads to the church Saint-Pierre-des-Minimes (which contains, for the anecdote, Pascal's certificate of baptism); to the opposite is the courthouse, then Fontgiève street ("Jewish fountain"). Saint-Dominique remains a popular neighbourhood for strong identity.

The first step to reach this famous Roman Door is to direct you to the hamlet of Good, depending on the municipality of Mont-de-Lans. From here, simply follow the indications on the left. After a short hour's walk on this forest path, punctuated by a chapel and a gazebo, the strange building presents itself to you. Theories abound about its role in yesteryear, but the mystery remains: nobody is still able to explain their origin. If not, you will only contemplate it!

Tariff: free.

Duration: 1 h 30 return.

Difficulty: .

Located at the top of a volcanic fireplace, Saint-Michel Chapel is a beautiful illustration of the technical achievement and human ingenuity. It is, however, on the rock that argues that Aighuilhe's commune has decided to emphasize, building an interpretive trail on its side. Throughout the climb to the chapel, information panels inform you about the origin of this rock formation and the geology of the region.

Tariff: 3 € (child under 18: 50 €).

Duration: 1 h.

Difficulty: easy (but pentu).

The village of Queyrières has the originality of being built around a dark sombre. This short walk around the village invites us to discover this lava rock, with geometric shapes shaped by erosion, thanks to an interpretive trail. Information panels return to the use that Man made of this volcanic stone to develop his environment and how she marked the history of Queyrières.

Tariff: free.

Duration: 30 minutes.

Difficulty: very easy.

Located at the Salève on its west slope, La Muraz near the large urban centres has managed to preserve its rural heritage.