The La Part-Dieu district of Lyon is defined by the majestic Tour Part-Dieu, formerly the Tour du Crédit Lyonnais. The top seven floors of this skyscraper are now home to a Radisson Blu hotel.
Panoramic views of Lyon and beyond
The Rezidor hotel group has created a special space for guests to relax and enjoy the spectacular views across the city. There are 245 elegant rooms to choose from each one with views of the majestic French Alps, including Mont Blanc and of course the Old City below. The hotel has all the modern conveniences you would expect from a hotel in Lyon including wireless and air conditioning. The hotel also has a fitness centre available free for guests to use during their stay.
The tallest building outside of the IIe-de-France
The Tour Part-Dieu is the work of American firm Araldo Cossutta & Associates. It was completed in 1977. It took five years to build. It currently holds the position as tenth tallest building in France though it was previously fourth and is the tallest outside of the IIe-de-France. Another interesting point about the height of the Tour Part-Dieu is that it is exactly equal to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Paris. This was a conscious decision made by the architect. The building is topped by a 23 metre high pyramid which led to the tower’s nickname ‘le crayon’ or ‘the pencil’ in English.
A panoramic restaurant and bar
Apart from the upper floors which are occupied by the Radisson Blu hotel the rest of the building is office space. The top floor houses a panoramic restaurant and bar and can be accessed by a dedicated elevator separate from those leading to the office floors. The rooms of the upper floors have been designed around a central shaft which benefits from natural light coming down from the transparent pyramid above.
A place in people’s hearts
The Tour Part-Dieu, or ‘le crayon’ as it is affectionately known, is such an iconic sight in the city of Lyon that it has inspired a few tributes over the years. A special chocolate was created mimicking the shape of the tower. It was made from dark chocolate and contained maraschino cherry liqueur and candied cherries. The building also appears on numerous postcards of the city of Lyon since it is one of the most recognisable points on the city skyline. It even featured in the famous French song ‘Lyon Presqu’île’ on the album ‘The Superb’ by Benjamin Biolay.
Catherine Halsey writes on a broad range of topics including travel and health.
