Parc de la Tête d'Or

The Parc de la Tête d'Or is Lyon's large urban park, covering about 117 hectares in the 6th arrondissement, in France's Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Laid out in the 19th century in the English landscape style, it centres on a large lake with an island, surrounded by lawns, tree-lined avenues and play areas. Its main features include the rose garden, which flowers from late spring, a botanical garden with historic greenhouses, and a free zoo with animals such as giraffes and other species. Pedal boats operate on the lake, and a small tourist train and children's rides are available as paid extras, while the park itself is free to enter. Joggers, cyclists and families use the paths throughout the day, and picnics on the lawns are common. The park is open daily from about 6:30AM, closing around 10:30PM from 15 April to 14 October and about 8:30PM in winter, and the botanical garden has shorter hours, with greenhouses closing earlier. In strong winds above 70 km/h the park may close for safety. A visit takes two to four hours, and a full circuit of the lake is a relaxed walk. The best vantage points include the lake edges toward the island, the rose garden in May and June, and the greenhouses for tropical plants in cooler weather. Crowds are heaviest on sunny weekend afternoons, while weekday mornings are peaceful. Metro A to Masséna is about ten minutes on foot from a park gate, and buses C1, C2 and C5 serve the area, as do trams T1 and T4 at Charpennes. Visitors should check gate hours seasonally, since the park shuts at night.