No visitor to Lyon should miss this wonderful park, one of the finest in Europe, with its lake, sunny cafes, zoological park, giant greenhouses and botanical and rose gardens. It’s big, 150 acres, so you should be prepared to spend a while exploring it.
Set in an urban landscape, although you would never believe it, ‘Le Parc de la Tête d’or’ or ‘Golden Head Park’ was created by French landscape architect Denis Bühler and it opened in 1856. It has remained largely unchanged since.
Its name comes from an old legend here which says that a golden head of Christ is buried somewhere in the area upon which the park was created. That is why the several entrance gates all contain the colour gold. Behind these gates you can see the lake, which covers an area of 25 acres.
Michael Cosgrove
Park Gates, Lyon France
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Near those gates is a wonderfully ornate statue, a memorial to those who died in the two World Wars. There are many other statues in the park, on many different themes.
Michael Cosgrove
War dead statue, Lyon France
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There are over twenty thousand plant species to be seen in the park, which makes it a must for all plant lovers. The plants come from all over the world, as do those who come to admire them. The park is also known for its many tree varieties, and some trees are hundreds of years old.
Situated in the heart of the park is the Rose Garden, which is very much appreciated by the people of Lyon, who have taken it to heart. Its one of the biggest rose gardens in the world, and a large area of it is occupied by roses which are tended by people all over France who all converge for the Best Rose Competition, which is held annually.
Here is an unusual setting for roses.
Michael Cosgrove
Rose columns, Lyon France
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The garden covers 40 000 m² and contains 30 000 rose plants and 350 varieties.
I didn’t get to see all the roses in what is after all a very big garden, but this particular rose took my eye.
Michael Cosgrove
Rose, Lyon France
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The Zoological gardens contain over 1000 animals and covers 15 acres. They include Atlas lions, Bengal tigers, Chinese leopards, European brown bears, anacondas, and the Nile crocodile.
Here is a giraffe with its young, eating an afternoon snack.
Michael Cosgrove
Giraffes, Lyon France
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Indian buffalo, wolves, Senegalese dwarf goats, baboons, chimpanzees and green monkeys can also be seen here.
The big cats were all inside their sleeping quarters, presumably avoiding the mid-afternoon sun and waiting for the air to cool down, so I walked over to see the flamingos. They obviously love to bask in the sunshine.
Michael Cosgrove
Flamingos, Lyon France
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The zoo has extended its activities over the years and is now a leading authority in France in terms of animal conservation and scientific research to help the well-being of animals.
Many visitors to the park appreciate the tropical greenhouses, which hold a massive 6000 species. They represent one of the richest collections in the world, and as such are regularly visited by botanists and scientists from all over the world. There are five main greenhouses, and this, the 21-metre high Giant Greenhouse, is a landmark in Lyon.
Michael Cosgrove
Greenhouse, Lyon France
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The greenhouses cover an area of 5200 m². Here is an example of what is to be seen inside the Giant Greenhouse.
Michael Cosgrove
Tropical plants, Lyon France
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Not all plants like greenhouses though, and cacti are much happier in the sun. These specimens certainly look healthy enough.
Michael Cosgrove
Cactus, Lyon France
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One could spend two days exploring this wonderful park, in which it is possible to learn so much about the plants and animals within it due to the abundance of pedagogical aids and tools which explain what you are looking at.
This means that a long walk around Le Parc de la Tête d’or is not only good for your body, but you will leave knowing much more than when you arrived.
And, like most other people who have been around the park, you will surely be thirsty afterwards and will stop at one of the elegant cafes dotted in and around the park in order to drink something refreshing and take the weight off your feet.
That’s what I did too, and my fresh orange juice with ice was just great!
Michael Cosgrove
Cafe, Lyon France
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