Lyon / Saint-Romain-en-Gal / Vienne

After buzzing Lyon, this ViaRhôna stage leads through the towns of Grigny and Givors, on to St-Romain-en-Gal. The historic importance of navigation is clearer here than anywhere else along the Rhône. Museums at St-Romain-en-Gal and Vienne give a good picture of the river’s rich history, from classical to contemporary times. A provisional link goes along the Rhône’s west bank, on very busy roads. Best take a train from Lyon to Givors.

The route

A provisional route, not signposted along the D 15 road, on the Rhône’s west bank via Pierre-Bénite > Vernaison > Grigny. Take great care, it’s very busy. There are stretches of marked-out cycle tracks. The way from Vernaison to Givors is steep. At Givors, rejoin the quayside, then take the footbridge over the Gier. Next, 300m after the suspension bridge, take the Chemin des Abricotiers parallel to the D 388 road. At Loire-sur-Rhône join the greenway signposted ViaRhôna. Consider the train for this stage.

Train stations:

Lyon Perrache: 

many trains to the Part Dieu railway station – high speed trains (TGV) departures for Paris, Nantes, Strasbourg, Lille

Lyon Part Dieu:

local services and high speed trains departures for many destinations :

• TGV (high speed trains) : connections with: Paris, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice, Toulouse, Nantes, Lille, Bruxelles, Strasbourg, Rennes, Rouen, Geneva (Lyria)
• TER (local services) : connections with: Grenoble, Clermont Ferrand, Bordeaux.

Givors:

• TER line 10 (Le Puy) - Firminy - St-Etienne - Givors – Lyon

Vienne:

the closest is in front of Saint-Romain-en-Gal on the other side of the river:

• Line 5 : Marseille > Avignon > Valence > Vienne > Lyon
• Line 75 : Annonay > Le Péage > Vienne > Lyon

Please note: there are no direct trains between Givors and Vienna, you have to pass through Lyon.

Tourist Offices:

• Vienne Condrieu Tourism Tel. +33 (0)4 74 53 70 10
• Grand Lyon Tourist Office Tel. +33 (0)4 72 77 69 69

Don't miss:

Lyon: its UNESCO World Heritage Site districts, listed in 1998, are the Presqu’île (the peninsula between Rhône and Saône), plus the Croix-Rousse hill above, and, west of the Saône, Fourvière Hill and the historic Vieux Lyon quarter below. Lyon is a gastronomic capital. Paul Bocuse may be the city’s most famous chef, but restaurants abound, including bouchons, traditional workers’ cafés.

Irigny: visit the former chain ferry and the 13th-century castle.

Vienne: a Ville d’Art et d’Histoire, in recognition of its cultural riches. The town boasts one of the richest Roman legacies in France, with an ancient theatre, the Cybèle archaeological garden, the temple to Augustus and Livia, plus an enigmatic pyramid. Vienne is also known for its International Jazz Festival, held each July.

Saint-Romain-en-Gal: for its archaeological site and its Gallo-Roman museum.

L’île Barlet: located on a secondary branch of the Rhône at St-Romain-en-Gal, with outdoor café, or guinguette, cycle hire and a fitness trail.

Markets :

La Mulatière : Tuesday and Thursday morning

Pierre Bénite : Wednesday morning

Irigny : Wednesday and Saturday morning

Grigny : Tuesday and Thursday morning

Givors : Wednesday, Friday and Sunday morning