Hotels - Lyon - France

Lyon enjoys a reputation as a comfortable, affluent city and this is evidenced in the quality of its hotels and tourism infrastructure in general. The city is arranged into nine districts or arondissements, the main of which is Vieux Lyon, home to the city's UNESCO accredited site and a delightful melange of residential townhouses dating from the Middles Ages and the Renaissance plus many fine hotels.

The stunning Cour des Loges hotel is located in the middle of Vieux Lyon and its magnificent Renaissance architecture and sumptuous interiors make for a perfect place to stay.

Vieux Lyon is the most popular place to stay in Lyon, but many other areas of the city afford excellent accommodation. Above Vieux Lyon and on the side of the hill is the Fourviere district, home to spectacular views of the city from the imposing Basilisque de Fourviere, the 19th century church nicknamed 'the upside-down elephant'.

Presqu'ile, or 'almost an island', is situated on the strip of land which connects the River Rhone with the Saone and operates as the administrative and commercial centre of Lyon. At its centre and at the junction of Rue Victor Hugo and Rue de la Republique is La Place Bellecour, a favourite meeting and people-watching spot of Lyon. In La Place Bellecour is a pretty Ferris wheel, an ideal spot from which to look out over the city's terracotta rooftops, and the Citadines Lyon Presqu'ile Hotel offers fine apartment-style accommodation in this part of town.

In the north of Lyon is the Terraux quarter, so named for the ancient moat which protected this area of town during the Middle Ages. Terraux houses some of Lyon's finest cultural attractions, including the Lyon Opera House and the Palais Saint Pierre, home today to the Musee des Beaux-Arts. The charming Le Patio des Terraux hotel, situated on Rue Saint Catherine, is a perfect example of homely French hospitality.

The quarter of Part-Dieu et Villeurbanne, located on the west bank of the Rhone, provides a modern contrast to the Renaissance and Middle Ages style architecture of the majority of Lyon. It houses the city's business and commercial district and also its railway station, but is not without its charms.

Locals say that the finest view of the city can be had from the Restaurant Panoramique le Meridien, situated on the top floor of the hotel of the same name. As one might expect from a business district, Part-Dieu is also home to a number of other international chain hotels including a Sofitel, Hilton and Campanile. Lyon's largest shopping complex can also be found in Part-Dieu.

Le Quartier Tete d'Or is regarded as the quietest and most residential part of Lyon, where fashionable boutiques contrast with the older architecture of townhouses. Visitors can relax here by talking a stroll through Tete d'Or Park, a picturesque haven of tranquillity in the heart of the city and home to botanical gardens and the pretty Jardin Zoologique. The four-star La Reine Astrid hotel provides an elegant option for tourists wishing to base themselves in the quieter part of Lyon.