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Parc de la Tete d'Or in Lyon

21st November 2006

The 105 hectare park contains a host of interesting attractions, ranging from four separate rose gardens to a zoo tucked away in its midst. Lyon also pays tribute to the tradition of Guignol puppetry, which originated within the city and is featured in locations around the park.

The centrepiece of the park is the large man-made lake - visitors entering via the decorative Enfants du Rhone gate are immediately presented with a panorama of both the vast expanse of water and the park itself.

Cleverly-designed walkways guide guests towards some of the more famous areas of the grounds, including the International Rose Garden. Occupying some 40,000 square metres, the biggest of the park's gardens features over 350 varieties of rose, while its smaller companions relate the history of the flower and stage the park's annual rose competition.

For a more comprehensive overview of the natural world, head to the botanical gardens, which were created in 1796 and moved to the Tete d'Or 60 years later. This is the largest garden of its kind in France and has the added bonus of offering free guided tours to all visitors.

The summer months provide an opportunity to go boating across the lake, which gives great views of the park's 300-year-old trees. With such scenery on display it soon becomes apparent why the Parc de la Tete d'Or attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

© Adfero Ltd

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