Tête d'Or Park Parc de la Tête d'Or
The grand wrought iron gates at the Porte des Enfants du Rhône open into a massive expanse of greenery that functions as the communal back garden of the city. The sudden roar of a lion or the chatter of flamingos often drifts across the lake, an auditory surprise courtesy of the free zoological park operating directly in the middle of the grounds. Families spread out picnic blankets under century old cedar trees while cyclists navigate the wide paved paths curving around the sixteen hectare boating lake. Stepping into the Grandes Serres feels like changing continents, as the humid air clings to enormous Amazonian water lilies and towering palm trees housed within the nineteenth century glass structures. There is usually a gentle scramble for the best pedal boats on sunny afternoons, a minor ritual that locals accept as part of the weekend charm. The sheer scale of the estate allows for crowded Sunday promenades near the famous Guignol puppet theatre to exist simultaneously with absolute quiet in the far corners of the botanical gardens.
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