First stop: Dijon - a successful start
After a largely uneventful journey, interrupted only by a short break halfway through the journey, we arrived in Dijon on time. There we used the time until lunch to take a short walk through the historic city centre. Our visit to the Église Notre-Dame de Dijon - an architectural jewel from the 13th century - was particularly impressive.
Of course, we also made a quick stop at a souvenir shop to pick up small gifts for friends and family.
Culinary delights at Dr Wine
A special experience awaited us for lunch at the Dr Wine restaurant. Rather inconspicuous from the outside, the interior revealed itself to be a real gem with a private, cosy terrace and a two-storey dining room with an impressive wine bar. The restaurant is located in an 18th century hotel in the heart of Dijon's old town centre.
We were treated to culinary delights such as asparagus with the hotel's own sauce, steak with jacket potatoes and French specialities such as snails and boeuf bourguignon - accompanied by fine wine, of course.
Tournus - professional exchange and warm hospitality
Our journey took us on to Tournus, where we were warmly welcomed by Frédéric and Romain at Tournus Equipement. The factory tour was extremely informative, focussing on the equipment and materials relevant to us. Despite our rusty school French, communication in English was excellent.
After the intensive dialogue, we arrived at our hotel a little late. Some of us used the short break to explore the neighbourhood or take a dip in the stylish indoor pool. The evening started with a small wine round, followed by a varied dinner with our French sponsors - until shortly before 11 pm. The evening ended in a relaxed atmosphere in the hotel lobby with a glass of wine or beer - some even let the evening fade away into the early hours of the morning.
Lyon - pleasure, culture and a touch of adventure
The next morning we set off early for Lyon. In pleasant weather, we first visited the famous Halles de Lyon - a market hall that leaves nothing to be desired: Cheese, sausages, seafood, wine, desserts and much more were waiting to be discovered.
We then met up for lunch in a typical brasserie, the Brasserie Georges, where Lyon cuisine has been served in generous portions since 1836. We enjoyed the unique atmosphere, which was appreciated by greats such as Jules Verne, Emile Zola, Rodin and the Lumière brothers.
After lunch, we explored the city centre, treated ourselves to an ice cream and admired the countless varieties - from classic to fancy. The next item on the programme was the cable car ride to the famous Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica. Despite a slight diversions (we got off one stop too early), we tackled the ascent in good spirits and were rewarded with a breathtaking view over the city. The neighbouring Tour métallique de Fourvière, a small ‘Eiffel Tower’, was also a source of amazement.
After this impressive conclusion, we travelled home in the afternoon - with a final short stop in French-speaking Switzerland.
Conclusion:
Our trip through Dijon, Tournus and Lyon was a complete success - characterised by exciting impressions, warm encounters, culinary delights and plenty of good humour.
Merci et à la prochaine!
