Things to see and do Rhônes-Alpes

Primatial of the Gauls, home of the Church of France, the Saint-Jean-Baptiste-Saint-Etienne cathedral is located on the banks of the Saône, facing the Fourvière hill, in the district to which it gave its name: Saint-Jean. The first Christians, gathered in the ^2nd century around Saint Pothin and Saint Irenaeus, had built a church in the same area as early as the^5th century. At the end of the ^11th century, the construction of the Manécanterie, one of the oldest buildings in Lyon, began. The construction of the cathedral is done in stages between 1165 and 1481. In the meantime, the cathedral hosted two councils (1245 and 1274) and the coronation of Pope John XXII (1316). With its Romanesque choir and Gothic naves, the cathedral shows how Lyon is at the crossroads, at the center of all influences. If the interior is remarkable, so is the facade, decorated with a series of 300 medallions inspired by the Old and New Testaments or the medieval bestiary. In 1379, an astronomical clock was installed in the cathedral, one of the oldest in Europe. At the beginning of the ^16th century, the Bourbon chapel was built in the flamboyant gothic style. On December 13, 1600, the cathedral received the marriage of Henri IV and Marie de Médicis. The facade was renovated in 1982 and 2011, while major restoration work of the choir was implemented to restore all its brilliance to this jewel of Lyon.

A massive 200 ha forest in Talloires offers a splendid view of Lake Annecy. The 69 ha of the natural reserve have a special flora, a mixture of mountain and Mediterranean species and a typical forest fauna rich in amphibians, reptiles and butterflies. Traces tell us the story of Roc de Chère: quarry of sandstone, land extraction areas and the life of the monks of Talloires (exploitation of forest and vines.)

Urfé Castle, known as Urfé's Horns, was born of the rivalry of two great feudal women who fought the roannais territory in the th century. To get to the Count of Forez, and to resist him, the sire of Beaujeu installs a post of surveillance above Champoly, facing the fortifications of the Count in Saint-Just-en-Bridge, Cervière, Crozet and Roanne. A modest beginning, around 1130 a large isolated tower at the top of a rock is erected. The burden of maintaining this strategic position was entrusted to the Raybe family, who cleverly knew how to take advantage of it, taking a long balance between the two overlords, until the day when, in 1234, she made a final bid to Count de Forez. Two centuries later was built the castle we know. Guichard of Urfé, seneschal from Quercy, chamberlain of the Duke of Orleans, was probably the director, before being murdered. The family was continued with the descendants of Arnoul, brother of the deceased. The fortress was built in Renaissance style by Anne d'Urfé, the brother of L'Astrée. Anne lived as a provincial chief of the League until 1618. Last consolidated in 1704, the heavy building resisted the storms until the Revolution. She then belonged to Durand-Antoine de Meaux, guillotiné in Feurs in 1793. His heirs will regain their property and their current descendants still possess them, but the fortress will never be restored.

Of course, everyone knows Fourvière and visits the Lyon churches, but who will have the sane curiosity to visit the great mosque of Lyon, the sixth of France, inaugurated in 1994 after many adventures. A mosque far from some clichés and inspiring beautiful modernity of the Islam. Of course, you take off your shoes and you follow the guide who explains you the unknown rites of this religion. A Futé visit to know a religion better, but also a flourishing culture and arts.

In Marcy-l'Etoile, the park of the Lacroix-Laval estate offers 115 hectares of gardens, meadows and forests, dedicated to family walks. Lacroix-Laval is located next to a castle whose foundations date back to the 12th century. The historic vegetable garden and rose garden are conservatories of fruits, vegetables and flowers of Lyon origin, old and remarkable. The Lacroix-Laval estate has obtained the Ecojardin label, which rewards the implementation of an environmentally friendly management approach, as well as the Remarkable Garden label. Sportsmen, nature lovers and culture lovers meet there all year long. Small train and restaurant.