Markets Part 3

Saturday: We set off from the hotel at 10am again (it seems to take us so long to have breakfast, do some blogging and get rugged up in coats, hats, gloves etc) in cool morning air, about 2 degrees but blue sky and weak sunlight. A glorious day!!

We caught the train one stop to Vieux Lyon Cathedrale St-Jean, just out of the station I saw these christmas trees and wreaths outside a florist......

 

We walked towards the riverhoping to find the markets along the river bank - yes, we spotted them on the other side ( east bank) of the river, so crossed at Pont Bonaparte.............

 

 the views from the bridge looking south and west

Once again, it was a produce market, no bric-a-brac, but wonderful fresh fruit, vegetables,seafood (including of course oysters Moyennes 7.50 Euro /doz) , roast chicken with potatoes (poulet et pommes de terre for 10E), even paella ................  

I bought 1kg small green beans for 3E to make my Italian bean dish, sampled cheeses, salamis, admired the flower stalls and the gorgeous christmas trees each one a small spruce tree on stands - wonderful idea!

 
....beautiful potted cyclamins only 7E and bunches of roses for 8E and 10E

well rugged up!

A festive feel, windoe of restaurant offering le lyonnaise Bouchon ...........

We crossed back over to the west bank of La Saone via Pont Marecha Juin......

Sculptural tree branches are still snow-laden ................

..... we walked along this cobblestone street Rue de la Bombarde with the Basilique Notre Dame Fourviere in the background, ...............................    pigeons on a window sill..........

...............to see if Cathedrale St-Jean, the oldest romanesque building in Lyon, was open.

It was built in the 11th and 12th centuries on the remains of 3 older churches dating back to the 4th century, part of which, a Carolingian arch, can still be seen on the south side of the church, as in the photo below left part of the church tower can be seen through the arch.

It was open so we we were in luck!
We spent some time soaking up the atmosphere, marvelling at the art works, marble statues and architecture inside, vaulted ceilings and huge marble columns.     
Light throught the superb stained glass windows created captivating patterns on the old stone walls...................

The superb rose window facing north, it's red colours signify "hot" and the images are based on the good and bad angels. Windows vary in age from hundreds to only several years.

......... and were lucky enough to be there for the astonomical clock to strike 12 noon - the rooster on the top first flaps its wings 3 times, then angels appear, people move and chime - simply gorgeous!

The Byzantine capital and 17th century tapestries illustrating episodes of the Story of Jacob and garments made of Lyonnaise silk are amongst the treasures on display .

The oldest pieces in the treasury include the carved 10th century ivory chest below right....

Below right, the 12th century stone wall on the back of the church, previously the choir school, now this wing houses the catheedrals treasures, some of whioch are shown above.      

    

 A cute liitle french girl ........

Back to Place de la Trinite ............

Cathy, Belinda and Craig enjoying freshly shucked huttres au naturelle, 1 Euro each, a pity I don't eat shellfish!!

 We then caugfht the furnicular to the Roman ruins on the hill above St-Jean, see the snow on the tracks........

A great spot to make a call!!

........ but the ruins were closed due to the danger of slippery steps due to ice,

so we walked at times gingerly along the windy and often icy and very slippery path ..........

.......... up to the basilica dedicated to Mary - describes as a modern-day acropolis, with its gilded statue of the Virgin Mary and origin of the December 8th Festival of Lights ( fete de lumieres) titled Merci Marie.

 The Basilica Fourvier has one of the most elaborate exteriors and interiors I have seen ....

A nativity scene in the crypt, one of 21 such scenes being set up in churches around Lyon for Christmas - chemin de creches.

Below is the magnificent view looking east over Lyon.  You can just make out the 2 rivers: La Saone is closest and La Rhone is in the middle ground.

Some of the buildings next to the basilica ......

Even the wrought iron gates are stunning.

We
caught the furnicular back down to Vieux Lyon Cathedrale St Jean station and caught the train to station Hotel de Ville. Snow on the aircarft hanger-shaped roof of Le Opera building and the white flags and red lanterns in the peristyle foyer

Hotel de Ville -

We walked around to Place des Terreaux, where we saw the town hall building and others and on one side of the place is La Fontaine Bartholdi below which was being made ready for its stunning display during fete des lumieres for 3 days from 8 to10 Decemebr.

 We are now becoming more familiar with Lyon, its efficient and clean transport system and how to find our way around.