COUR DES LOGES

Ravishing Renaissance style in Lyon's cobble-street heart

TAKE FOUR MAGNIFICENT Italian Renaissance houses tucked into the cobbled streets of medieval Lyon. Artfully link their 14th century stone walls, then play unexpected tricks with the ancient interior by overlaying history in an artfully contemporary style.

Walking into Cour des Loges feels rather like entering a medieval Florentine villa. A glass atrium  canopies the lobby, surrounded by soaring arched balconies and interior courtyards. Bold colours, contemporary artworks and giant candlesticks add touches of audacious confidence, setting off the time-worn stone and ancient surrounds to perfection. It's a stunner.

Rooms at Cour des Loges are seductive and theatrical; and how. Opulent schemes combine velvets, silks, damasks and linens; antiques, tapestries and objets d’art juxtapose modern furniture and art. Colours major on chic slate grey, taupe and terracotta. Bathrooms, designed by Starck, boast double baths, jacuzzis, and power showers. All feel private. Superior Italienne rooms will tick all the boxes, while the Piazzetta suite, with its podium bed, provides yet more visual drama.

Private roof gardens

Our opulent bed with giant pillows and a crushed velvet throw had wicked intentions writ large across it. Pearl-white bedlinen, a hand-frescoed headboard and intimate lighting set the tone, while  views over the private fourth floor roof gardens, basking in the spring sunshine, were an added plus. Our similarly lavish bathroom sported a huge double bath with the loo artfully tucked away behind a mirror.

This is France’s gastronomic capital, and cooking at the Cour des Loges deeply smart Café Epicerie not surprisingly dazzles. Eclectic menus feature grilled Brittany lobster tail with Japanese red shiso cress; saddle of rabbit with beetroot; scallops with poached rhubarb. Expect terrific breakfasts, too: we were taken with the spread of springy freshly-baked breads and cured ham to carve off the bone.

Outside, Lyon buzzes. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site so culture vultures have rich pickings. Here in Vieux Lyons, you're surrounded by the winding alleys, cobbled courtyards and towers of a medieval gem. River walks and markets are not far away.

Having succumbed to a night in on the day we arrived, we were happy to plot a night out over cocktails in the darkly intimate bar next day. The very savvy concierge was more than helpful. So much, in fact, that we decided that to do this place justice, we'd need to stay  an extra night.


Cour des Loges was reviewed for Room for Romance by Raz Murray

Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.

Dining in
Indulge in award-winning chef Anthony Bonnet’s exceptional cooking and seasonal specialities, in an awesome Renaissance setting created from four of the finest medieval houses in old Lyon. The food is an exciting blend of the traditional and imaginative.

Breakfast
Served until 11am weekdays and till 12 noon on Sundays.

Room service
Yes – 24 hours




See & Do
Lyon's old town is a gem of medieval walkways, Renaissance mansions and quaint courtyards – no wonder it has been selected as a World Heritage site. Take a walk around (be sure to climb up to the hilltop cathedral and take in the city-wide views) or get on the water with a cruise on the Rhône.

Spa
Take a dip in the in the swimming pool or unwind in the sauna or steam room after a hard day's holidaying.

Diary Dates
December:
Shops and homes light up with candles for the city's four-day Festival of Light.

September
Fight for tickets to see one of the shows at the Biennale de la Danse, held every two years.

GETTING THERE

Location
Rue de Bouef, 69005 Lyon

Parking
There's no free guest parking, and car access is restricted in the old town. It's best to arrive by train or plane.

Trains
Lyon TGV station –  4km

Taxis
EUR 10 from the TGV station

Airport
Lyon – 28km

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
EUR 240 - 618

Open/closed
Open all year round

Check-in
3pm

Check-out
12 midday

Minimum night stay?
No

Children
Free if they are under four years old

Pets
Welcome

Air conditioning
Yes

Wedding license?
No