France’s largest public park goes from strength to strength. As well as a newly installed Only Lyon contemporary sculpture, work is now afoot in the zoo for an Asian forest with Cambodian temple-inspired architecture where 25 threatened species will be housed from 2020. On the right bank of the Rhône, this 117-hectare (289-acre) park has a magnificent lakeside setting with deer wandering freely around the grounds. The Zoological Park (www.zoo.lyon.fr; tel. 04-72-69-47-78; daily 9am–5pm) hosts some 1,000 animals including rose-pink flamingos and Senegalese dwarf goats, while the Botanical Garden (www.jardin-botanique-lyon.com; tel. 04-72-69-47-60; daily 9am–4:30pm) features 15,000 plants including carnivorous plants and orchids. Families will be kept busy with pony rides, carousels, and pedal boats on the lake.