Pérouges – Medieval Hilltop Town

Our schedules have been overwhelming this year and looking ahead there may not be a pause for some time to come. Our commitment to continue travelling and doing new things needed a boost, so this last weekend we went to Pérouges.

Pérouges fitted the bill nicely. Visiting the town is a day trip from Lyon. From Part Dieu train station the journey took thirty minutes on a regular commuter TER train. The destination station is Meximieux - Pérouges.

From Meximieux to Pérouges

Meximieux is the closest stop with a train station. To reach Pérouges from the station, a short walk of either 20 minutes or 40 minutes awaits. One route is more direct but less scenic. I recommend the scenic route as it wanders through countryside and you pass by an attractive lake.

Pérouges

Pérouges feels deliberately suspended in the medieval period. The town is clearly maintained as a tourist destination. The buildings are restored and maintained; the construction style makes use of the thousands of small rocks that litter fields all around.