By Anita Draycott

Downtown Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage site, sits prettily at the junction of the turbulent Rhône and tranquil Saône Rivers. The old quarter is a vibrant maze of tiny passageways and medieval and Renaissance architecture, dating from the time when the city was Europe’s silk manufacturing capital. Now it’s crammed with bars, boutiques and bouchons (traditional bistros).

I stayed at the three-star Collège Hôtel in the heart of Old Lyon. The designer got a bit carried away with the college dorm theme (lockers for cupboards, antique desks in the breakfast room, communal vintage refrigerators in the halls) but you can’t beat the central location, plus there’s a huge garden terrace.

If dinner at Paul Bocuse’s famed Michelin-starred restaurant is a bit too rich for your pocketbook, try one of the more casual Les Brasseries de Paul Bocuse (Le Nord, Le Sud, L’Est and L’Ouest).