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Villa Florentine

Villa Florentine

Lyon, France

A former convent turned five-star Relais & Chateaux property, Villa Florentine is perched on Fourvière hill and offers sweeping views of Lyon below. The hotel is built in grand Renaissance style, its ochre and terracotta façades reminiscent of Tuscany. Inside the lobby you’ll find 18th-century frescoes and period furnishings are artworks.

The 32 spacious rooms are divided between the original building and an annex. Many have large French windows and all are decorated is soft tones of yellow, grey and beige, some in a traditional style and others more contemporary.

Villa Florentine’s inviting Michelin-starred restaurant, Les Terrasses de Lyon, offers a welcoming yet refined setting for guests to enjoy gastronomic delicacies local to Lyon. In warmer months, diners are welcome to enjoy their food on the covered terrace which offers some of the best views in Lyon.

Along with a small spa and gym, the hotel has a large terrace with an outdoor pool. From the hotel it’s a five-minute drive down the steep hill to the old town, an alternative to the many steps, and an even steeper ten-minute drive up to the imposing Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

OUR OPINION:

One of our preferred hotels in Lyon, Villa Florentine sits atop the Fourvière Hill giving all who visit unparalleled aerial views of the city and beyond. Come for the five-star amenities, but stay for the views.

OUR RATING: Deluxe

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Audley Travel Specialist Ruth

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Rooms

The hotel’s 32 airy rooms are divided between the original convent and a connected annex. All four room categories are decorated in rich tones reminiscent of Tuscany with elegant furniture and large windows. Some rooms have balconies overlooking the city below while others have views of an internal courtyard or the pool terrace. All rooms feature marble bathrooms with large bathtubs, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi.

Location

A five-minute drive or steep ten-minute walk down Fourvière hill brings you to Lyon’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a warren of medieval streets and a vast array of restaurants. Les Halles de Lyon — Paul Bocuse, the city’s renowned indoor food market, is a 15-minute drive away.

Food and drink

Villa Florentine’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Les Terrasses de Lyon, has won awards for its innovative take on classic Lyonnais dishes using the freshest local products. Enjoy feasting at the restaurant from the elegant dining room or on the covered open-air terrace with panoramic views of the city and allow in-house sommelier Gaëtan Bouvier, named France’s best sommelier in 2016, to help you select the perfect wine to pair with your meal.

Facilities and activities

Surrounded by cypress trees and sun loungers, the outdoor heated swimming pool offers sweeping views of Lyon, as does the adjacent outdoor bar and seating area. The hotel also has a small gym and a spa with an on-site massage therapist, along with a sauna and hammam.

Accessibility

There are unfortunately no rooms available with handicap accessibility.

Location & places nearby

Places & hotels on the map

    Alternative places to stay nearby

    Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favourite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can’t be bettered.

    Experiences while staying here

    The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you’re staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident’s eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area’s inhabitants.

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    Lyon and nearby places