Within easy reach of the
city, the
Monts du
Lyonnais to the
south and west of Lyon
may not reach
spectacular heights, but
they offer quiet and
solitude among steep,
forested hills and
unassuming villages
surrounded by cherry
orchards, the region's
main source of income.
Tourism is low-key, but
food and accommodation
in the hostels of the
mountain villages are
rarely a problem for
visitors to the area's
parks and museums.
Bus services from
Lyon to the larger
villages are reasonably
frequent, and to the
east of Lyon, the small
medieval cities of
Pérouges and
Crémieu can easily
be reached by train. The
mountains can be visited
every Sunday from June
until the middle of
September by steam train,
leaving from
L'Arbresle , just
west of Lyon (frequent
trains from Lyon-Perrache);
it's a scenic service
but not very useful for
getting anywhere.