2008 Elderhostel outing

Day 8, Friday: Goodbye to Libellule, back to Lyon

We make our final landing at St. Jean-de-Losne and say our final goodbyes to Libellule’s outstanding crew.

  • We approach the Seurre lock, our last one (closed the day before by a strike).
  • in the Seurre lock
  • Once we’re in the lock, Marc can take it easy.
  • The lock is half filled.
  • The lock is filled, and we’re ready to continue upstream.
  • the bargemaster's house
  • We approach our last quay.
  • We go ashore for the last time.
  • Harriet and the Libellule’s crew.
  • On the quai at St. Jean-de-Losne

We approach Lyon from the west, stopping on the heights of Fourvière to enjoy the splendid views of the city.

  • Viewing Lyon from Fourvière, we can see the quai where we first met Libellule.
  • The Lyon farmers' market a week later.
  • Lyon seen from the height of Fourviére. The next line of trees is the Rhône.
  • Place des Terraux, mairie de Lyon
  • Cathédrale St.-Jean
  • Pont Mai Juin crosses the Sâone.
  • Restaurant de Fourvière
  • The Restaurant de Fourvière is our venue for lunch.
  • At the Restaurant de Fourvière we have a great view of Lyon.
  • Not all seats have such a good view.
  • The brothers Lefley, June, Lois, and Jordan.
  • This one is taken by one of the Restaurant de Fourvière’s servers.
  • The main course at the Restaurant de Fourvière is delicious leg of lamb.
  • Dessert at the Restaurant de Fourvière is a fine flan.

Fourvière’s most famous landmark is the Basilica of Notre Dame. A 19th-century building, it employs structural iron unknown in the age of the medieval cathedrals.  

  • Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière
  • the basilica's main entrance
  • The basilica’s chancel and nave. The ornate decoration is quite a contrast with the
  • 19th-century stained glass
  • Embellishments cover every square inch.
  • More detail
  • spectacular murals
  • another of the basilica’s murals
  • detail of the exterior

We descend from Fourvière to Vieux Lyon by the funicular railway.

  • Fourvière's funicular tram approaches.
  • We are passengers in the funicular tram.
  • Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière, seen from below

In Vieux Lyon we visit the Cathedral of Saint-Jean Baptiste.

  • façade, Saint-Jean Baptiste Cathédrale de Lyon
  • closeup of the cathedral's façade
  • one of the cathedral's rose windows
  • chancel and nave of the cathedral. What a contrast with the basilica!
  • Sunlight streaming in through the stained glass illuminates the stone columns.
  • another of the cathedral’s rose windows
  • The flying buttresses cast shadows on the stained glass.

We explore some of Vieux Lyon’s traboules.

  • Traboules have their wells.
  • Traboules’ architecture is often intricate.
  • Place de la Basoche, showing Italian influence
  • La Longue Traboule
  • La Longue Traboule
  • street scene, Vieux Lyon
  • a traboule tower
  • helical staircase
  • Joanne explores.

Our day ends at a Lyon brasserie, Café des Negociants.

  • Dinner at the Café des Negociants
  • Pomeroys, Lefleys, and a Richards
  • Bruce, Theresa, Françoise, and Bob
  • Evelyn, Ellen, and Harriet