Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fruity and fresh Gamay Beaujolais grapes, which grow in vineyards just north of Lyon,
produce a light, fruity, easy-to-drink red wine. Beaujolais vines grow on granite rock
slopes, compared to the limestone of nearby Burgundy, giving the wines their distinct fla-
vor. While there are several premier
crus
producing lovely wines, the area is most famous
for its simple Beaujolais Nouveau wines, opened just six weeks after bottling. The arrival
of the new Beaujolais is cause for lighthearted celebration and mischief in this otherwise
hard to impress country. At midnight on the third Thursday of November, the first bottles
are opened to great fanfare, road rallies carry the new wine to destinations throughout
France, and cafés everywhere post signs announcing its arrival.
Big reds made from (mostly) Syrah grapes grow to the city's south. Look for Saint-
Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage wines. In the village of Condrieu, only Viognier grapes are
allowed to grow; they produce a rich and perfumy white wine.
Despite being France's third-largest city (after Paris and Marseille), with about 1.5 million
inhabitantsinitsmetropolitanarea,thetraveler'sLyon(hometo485,000people)ispeace-
ful and manageable. Traffic noise is replaced by pedestrian friendliness in the old cen-
ter—listen to how quiet this big city is. Notice the emphasis on environmentally friendly
transport: Electric buses have replaced diesel buses in the historic core, bike lanes run
everywhere, and pedal taxis (called
cyclopolitains,
seek-loh-poh-lee-tan) are used instead
of traditional taxis for short trips (about €1/kilometer). Lyon's network of more than 5,000
city-owned rental bikes was in place years before Paris' (note that these work only with
American Express or chip-and-PIN credit cards).
