17th October, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon

Lyon boasts an absolutely magnificent fine arts museum and has done so since 1801.The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon is one of the largest French and European museums. 
It is housed within the walls of the majestic Benedictine Abbey of the "Dames Nobles de Saint-Pierre and was built in the second half of the 17th Century.   At this time of the year the crowds and queues are non existent and this is where we headed today for our final planned adventure in the Rhône-Alpes region of France.

The exhibits in the Fine Arts Museum of Lyon extend from  antique art from Egypt, the Near and Middle East to Greece and Rome, art objects from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, sculptures by Rodin and Chinard, classical paintings by Rubens and Rembrandt, impressionists such as Renoir, Monet, van Gough and Gauguin and modernists notably Picasso and Matisse. 

We walked the 70 plus exhibition rooms of the museum and stood with unhindered access in front of such masterpieces as:

• Picasso's  "Woman Sitting on the Beach"

• Rodin's sculpture of  "The Thinker (Le Penseur), 

• Matisse's "Model Lying Down,White Dress", 

• Monet's "Mer Agitée à Etretat" and 

• Rubens"Adoration of the Magi" and 

• Rembrandts, and Renoirs and Egyptian antiquities from 2450 - 2150 BC and incredible artwork  from Italy, Flanders, Greece, Holland, Spain, France, Iraq and Iran and......................

A general gallery view

Picasso's "Woman Sitting on the Beach", 1937

Rodin's "Le Penseur" vers 1881

Renoir's " Woman Playing Guitar" 1897

A "large" painting by unknown artist - see Ann?

 We took a lunch break and found our way to the closeby Café des Fédérations, a genuine, traditional "Bouchon Lyonnais" recommended to us by Floriane, Lyonnaise herself. We were advised that we would not need dinner that night after eating lunch - we didn't. 
The cafe's owner, Yves Rivoiron, who greeted us, is a  member of the esteemed "L’Association de Défense des Bouchons Lyonnais", whose focus is on maintaining the pleasures of traditional Lyonnaise cuisine and we knew we were assured of  being served the real thing. We were not disappointed. Another food adventure is crossed off the list.

The facade of Café des Fédérations

 BTW, we have now navigated our way to, from and around this large city of Lyon all by  public transport - rail from and to Vienne, funicular railway, metro, tram and bus. The system is fantastic, inexpensive, efficient,  clean and new looking. We will get there one day.