When in Paris, its famous tourist spots are not to be missed – Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Jardin de Luxembourg, THE Louvre.

Other points of interest one will not be disappointed to visit:

1. Sainte-Chapelle – be awed by 1,113 dazzling stained glass windows depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament.

2. Palace of Versailles – located some 20 kilometers from the city, Versailles was previously the seat of political power. If you plan to visit, be early to avoid the long queue at the entrance.

3. Sacre Couer – dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the basilica is located at the highest point of Paris, the 100+ steps (i think, I lost count), makes the climb worthwhile as one is welcomed with a spectacular view of the city. There is a tram though for those who prefer to take the easy way up.

For this trip, we were on a quest to venture outside Paris. Couple of hours by train from Gare du Nord is the city of Lyon.

A UNESCO world heritage site, Lyon is the 3rd largest city in France. It is known for its over 4,000 restaurants, for being the home of Interpol and for being the birthplace of author/aviator Antoine de Saint Exupery.

Our first stop for our overnight stay in this lovely city is the Basilica of Notre – Dame de Fourviere. Perched atop the hills of Fourviere, it offers a breathtaking view of the City of Lyon. The Basilica is dedicated to the Virgin Mary whom many believe saved the city from the bubonic plague in the 16th century. We were pleasantly surprised to see a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of La Naval de Manila in the basilica.

Another church which should be in one’s list is the Lyon Cathedral. Dedicated to St. John the Baptist, this church is the seat of the Archbishop of Lyon. It is conveniently located in the heart of the old town, less than 5 minutes away from Saone riverbanks, facing a large plaza and lined with hundreds (literally) of cafes – lots of tourists too. A metro stop is nearby the church, providing easy access to and from the city.

As the city is very much compact, you can tour its numerous plazas with imposing statues (and fountains) in a day. Make sure to look for the ‘Only Lyon’ sign if you have time. They change the location of the signage every so often. At the time of our visit, we learned it was in the Museum of Confluences – while reachable by the metro, it’s a bit far from the city (took us almost an hour to get there).

We’re glad we made an effort to look for it – it makes for a really good picture, don’t you think?☺