#visit lyon

28.05.2022

We went to Lyon for the last time today. We visited the aquarium and then took a long walk through the old city. It felt like a date where you hold hands for the first time and giggle around while sipping a milkshake. In two days we pack everything and leave, but for now, right now, we’re here. 

16.05.2022

We visited Lyon today. 

Top trips around Lyon with kids

My Top more than 10 Trips around Lyon To Organise with Kids

When writing about interesting for kids trips around Lyon, I also couldn’t limit myself to top 10 as I noticed that the ideas to explore Lyon and its surrounding are unlimited thanks to the fact that this region offers a lot. So check out my suggestions and make the most out of them. If you have other ideas for trips around Lyon…

Why you should choose Segway for sightseeing in any city?

10 top reasons why you should choose a Segway to do the sightseeing in any city and especially in Lyon!!!

I think, firstly, I should say I did itso you can do it as well! I tried Segway for the first time and I loved it. I need to admit I was nicely surprised to find out how easy, super fun, interesting, cool Segway is and on top of that how great it is to use it to do sightseeing in the city. So…

In general, I have always been a tall girl and usually taller than most of people. I got used to not wearing high heels often so I don’t feel that big. But when I went to Mini World Lyon I felt very big! Not only because I was surrounded by small kids who enjoyed the expo but especially because the world around me was super small! But for the first time being big I felt really good. Why? Because the Mini World Lyon was just amazing and that is way I wanted to tell you about it as a very good idea for a thing to do in Lyon at any age. So, don’t feel bad if there are many kids, I am sure that all the parents that come with them have a great time and the single or coupled adults have even bigger fun!

Mini Basilica de Fouviere

So let’s start from the beginning, what is actually the Mini World Lyon? It is an animated miniature park of 4500m² located in the leisure center of Carré de Soie in Vaulx-en-Velin in Lyon (France) which was open in June 30, 2016. So far it is the largest amusement park of its kind in France.

Trains version mini!

MiniWorld by night!

Life in the MiniWorld

Lego Expo at MiniWorld – Pirates

Fete des Lumieres everyday in Lyon at MiniWorld!

Cars version mini. Where. In Lyon at MiniWorld

What does it offer? Actually quite a few things!

Firstly, the park offers the mini world which is alive! It presents the animated scenes of life, hundreds of vehicles, cars, trains, buses, trucks, tractors and even bicycles that circulate continuously, dozens of life scenes animated, everyday activities and more.

Secondly, it offers three worlds. There is the city, countryside and mountains landscapes.

Thirdly, Mini World Lyon makes all those worlds evolve at the rhythm of the day and the night. Every 20 minutes, day and night alternate on Mini World Lyon to make the most of the 30 000 lights. It is really magical!

And the BIG BONUS is that every hour, there is a real festival of illuminations realized by artists of the Festival of Lights. So it is like having Fete des Lumieres everyday in Lyon.

Strange things happening in the Lyon MiniWorld!

But this is not all!

There is always some temporary exhibitions: Playmobil, Lego … and new to come! Opening of the Presqu’ile on March 31, 2018.

There is a 3D cinema which usually show 2 movies – short but very good!

There is a clever & interesting & hidden discovery game which starts when you enter Mini World Lyon. It’s very amusing for kids but also adults and the idea is to find…many small misplaced hidden in the worlds elements such as: superheroes, cartoons, movies, TV shows and celebrities. And another BONUS is  – “Where is Charlie”?

There is a very well equipped boutique for the mini shopping and the bigger real shopping center  – Carre De Soie next to the Mini World for the maxi shopping!

Stars Wars at MiniWorld – Lego Expo

Manificient! At the Lego Expo at MinWorld!

Lego Expo in the MiniWorld – Apparently some Ghostbusters

Lego Expo in MiniWorld – Dracula

Lego Expo at MiniWorld – Pirates

Jabba The Hutt at pod racing. Lego Expo at MiniWorld

Darth Maul at MiniWorld in Lyon – Lego Expo

Also, some interesting & surprising facts about Mini World Lyon are:

The idea came to live in the garage! When one spring Sunday in 2012, Richard Richarté, now president of Mini World Lyon, found a box of miniatures to build and asked his daughter to help him. They had a great time and after seeing the enthusiasm of his daughter, he got an idea of working more with miniatures…

The company has been created by him in June 2013 when he began the recruitment of a dedicated team, with multiple skills.

All the elements of the worlds (houses and buildings, roads, vehicles, characters) are assembled and customized “à la française”, to recreate typically hexagonal landscapes and atmospheres.

Tens of thousands of characters are integrated one by one, offering as many opportunities to create fun gags and skits, but also multiple cultural references, including many movies and cartoons. And being more specific: 30,000 mini-inhabitants; 4,000 animals; 10,000 trees; 300 animated elements; 2,000 vehicles; 150 trains; 2 km of rails; 40,000 leds; 200 km of cables; 70 000h of work.

Impressive isn’t it? Well, you can check yourself and you should! As I would say that visiting Mini World Lyon is a very good thing to do in Lyon and great experience to have. And you, what do you think?

Lastly, some practical information for you. Like the address of Mini World Lyon and price of the ticket is:

Adress: 3, avenue de Bohlen; 69120 Vaulx-en-Velin

Price: 8 – 16 Euros (different options available here)

Jean Couty is Lyon’s major artist, who received the Critics’ Prize in Paris in 1950 and Grand Prix of the Painters Witnesses of their Time in 1975. He is one of the great figures of French painting. His art shows not only places between the Rhône and Saône, but throughout the world. I found it very interesting and beautiful. He is a real lyonnais born here in 1907.

And the museum  Jean Couty has just been opened in Lyon on March 18, 2017, a few meters from the family home and the artist’s studio, facing Ile Barbe, birthplace of the painter. This is his son Charles who dedicated 2 years to create this museum mainy to show the artwork of his dad but also to show more of lyonnais art in the future through more temporary exhibitions of other artists.

Lyon center by JeanCouty

Lyon Center by night by Jean Couty

From various travels by Jean Couty

It is just the beginning. Currently, the museum presents its first exhibition, entirely dedicated to Jean Couty. There are more than 150 works, including 120 paintings, about thirty works on paper, as well as archival documents, sketchbooks and personal objects of the artist. But soon thanks to the large fund, the Director of the museum, Myriam Couty, will vary the selections and organize thematic exhibitions around Jean Couty.

And finally where and when you can go?

Address: 1 place Henri Barbusse Saint-Rambert-L'Ile Barbe 69009 LYON Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, from 11 am to 6 pm. How much: The full price is 6 €, reduced price: 4 €. It's free for children under 12 years old.

In the charming museum

Are you interested to find out more about the artist? Check key dates in his life below:

1907: Jean Couty was born in Lyon on March 12th.

1925: He entered the Lyon School of Fine Arts.

1926: He entered the studio of Tony Garnier.

1933: Be received the diploma of architect DPLG and was named a member of the Southeast Salon.

1937: He won the Grand Prix of the Paris-Lyon group.

1940: 1st drawing of the resistance was shown in the New Times.

1945: 1st solo exhibition organized at the Galerie Katia Granoff in Paris, where he exhibited more than 40 years.

1947: Exhibition of French art in Ottawa.

1948: Exhibition of sacred art in South America.

1950: Grand Prix of the Critique of Paris after Buffet and Lorjou.

1952: Exhibits at the biennale of Genoa.

1953: Second Grand Prix of the International Triennial of Menton.

1959: He was the 1st painter to illustrate the ticket of the National Lottery.

1960: He received the Legion of Honor.

1964: He illustrated two Christmas postcards of the United Nations after Picasso, Chagall and Miro.

1965: Major exhibition in Germany at the Baukunst Gallery in Cologne.

1971: Retrospective at the House of Bourges Culture.

1975: Grand Prix Painters Witness their time at the Galliera museum in Paris.

1976: Retrospective at the Espace Lyonnais d’Art Contemporain.

1979: Great exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris.

1983: He was elected to the Academy of Sciences, Belles-Lettres and Arts of Lyon.

1987: He received the Medal of Commander of Arts and Letters.

1989: Prize of Painter of Light and Spirituality in Lourdes.

1990: Exhibition at the Vasarely Foundation in Aix-en-Provence.

1991: Retrospective at the Auditorium of Lyon.

Jean Couty died in Lyon on May 14th 1991

…yet we are lucky to keep his talent among us and admire throughout his art..

In the little museum shop – very good

So are you coming or have you already visited? Please share your experience with us. Or do you have other recommendations for discovering authentic local art from whenever in France? Thank you!

Discover Rhone – Alpes!

Discover Rhone – Alpes! The Most Interesting Facts About Rhone – Alpes That Will Help You To Discover it better…. It has been over 1 year and a half that I have been living (and exploring!) France and Rhone Alpes especially! Starting with Lyon which is my place to be, I love to take part in activities around the city as well as go for trips to discover the French region more and more. So slowly I…

Feeling sentimental about my First Festival of Lights in Lyon!

So they made me go there! I was literally forced to go out on Friday evening and I didn’t feel like leaving a cosy and warm apartment that time. Ok, I had heard about The Festival of Lights, I had seen the YouTube videos of the event (as you cannot look at photos, they are mostly unable to show the whole beauty of the lights and music shows and the city’s atmosphere). So yes, I wanted to see it…