FRANCE

Location - Western Europe; Capital - Paris; Population - 65 million; Currency - Euro MORE FRANCE

From Menton it was on to Avignon followed by the attractive city if Lyon on the way back to London - February 2016.

A 10 Euro note

Not just any bridge but 12th century St Benezet Bridge, made famous in the nursery rhyme that contains the line 'Sur le pont d'Avignon' - Avignon

Avignon Opera House stands on Place de l'Horloge - Avignon

Also on Place de l'Horloge is the Town Hall, along with several touristy cafes and restaurants - Avignon

The Palais des Papes (Papal Palace) is the city's main draw - Avignon

As the name suggests the palace was the papal home in the 14th century, before eventually returning to Rome - Avignon

Take a walk around the palace grounds - Avignon

A golden Virgin Mary stands on top of the Notre Dame des Domes Cathedral, opposite the Papal Palace - Avignon

A rock hewn path leads off the Place du Palais - Avignon

Pray for Paris became a popular tag after the 2016 Paris bombings - Avignon

The palace and cathedral next door are lit up at night - Avignon

The ancient city walls surround the Old Town - Avignon

First up in Lyon was Fourviere Hill, standing above Vieux Lyon. This is the Roman Theatre, originally built in the 1st century BC

Notre Dame de Fourviere Basilica has the perfect postion on Fourviere Hill, capturing most of the city below from its terrace - Lyon

The slopes roll down to Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon), the River Saone followed by the Presqu'Ile peninsula, the obscured River Rhone and finally the commercial district - Lyon

On the right, before the River Saone, is the St Jean Baptiste Cathedral - Lyon

Soldiers make their presence felt outside St Jean Baptiste Cathedral, following the Paris bombings - Lyon

Place St Jean is a hub of bars and restaurants, where you can admire both the cathedral on the square and basilica above - Lyon

Vieux Lyon's narrow cobbled streets are an atmospheric area to wander - Lyon

What looks like someone's front door is a traboule, or secret passageway, accessible to all. Just open the door and walk between cobbled streets - Lyon

Take the steps up to Fourviere Hill, or alternatively hop on the much quicker funicular - Lyon

A pedestrian bridge over the River Saone connects Vieux Lyon with the Presqu'Ile peninsula - Lyon

The riverside walkway reminds me of Paris - Lyon

On the Presqu'Ile side of the bridge is the superb Fresque des Lyonnais, a huge mural that occupies a whole building - Lyon

Also on Presqu'Ile is the Town Hall on Place des Terreaux - Lyon

Place Bellecour with Notre Dame de Fourviere Basilica in the background - Lyon

In the Rive Gauche area is the Centre d'Histoire de la Resistance Deportation. Formerly a school, it was taken over by Gestapo chief Klaus Barbie (the 'Butcher of Lyon') during WWII, where members of the French Resistance were tortured and killed - Lyon

Crossing the River Rhone on the way to Gare Part-Dieu train station - Lyon

A distant view of Notre Dame de Fourviere Basilica and the Tour Metallique on Fourviere Hill, with the River Rhone in the foreground - Lyon

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LINKS

www.eurostar.com - Eurostar train from London to Paris, Brussels and more

www.francemonthly.com

www.tourism-Avignon.co.uk - guide to Avignon

http://uk.franceguide.com - French tourist office

www.voyages-sncf.com - French trains

I am not responsible for the content of external websites.