Pérouges, Medieval Village, Rhône-Alpes, Lyon, France

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A great place for an afternoon trip, just 20 minutes by train from Lyon. This Medieval Village is a great treat for history lovers and kids alike. Come in April and enjoy the annual carnival celebration, where you'll be surrounded by people in masks.

Only 30km away from the city, Pérouges is one of the best day trips from Lyon. This pretty medieval walled town is often used as a historical film set. Pérouges is extremely well-preserved. As in every medieval village, there is a church, a lovely square and some shops with handmade products. You can enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine on a restaurant terrace. For more demanding tourists you can – of course – taste French cuisine delicacies or spend the night in a lovely hotel.

As clichéd as this may sound, as you walk into town you truly have the feeling of having stepped into the past with the lack of modern-day signifiers.

One of the pleasures the tiny town offers is its artisan community, including a “papeterie artisanale” (paper-making workshop) and a “créatrice de robes de mariées” (silk wedding dress workshop). You can also try the typical “galette” – salty or sweet crêpes made from buckwheat flour.

The village is culturally active, especially during spring and summer. There are frequent workshop events where you have the opportunity to try your hand at traditional crafts, as well as various market days. An annual carnival with typical Italian masks takes place at the beginning of April.

You can opt for a guided tour through the Pérouges tourist information center, but since the town is fairly compact it’s easy enough to stroll through the winding cobbled streets on your own. There’s a free audio guide app you can download from the official website.

If you are more of a “walking tourist”, Pérouges has an option for you too. There are many different walking tours in nature around the village. They have different lengths, so it is up to you which one to choose.