"A prominent historical landmark in central Lyon got a new lease on life when it was reborn as the InterContinental in 2019. Located on the Presqu’île at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, the Grand Hôtel-Dieu had operated as a hospital for eight centuries before the premises were vacated in 2010. The building is significant to locals—an estimated one in three Lyonnais alive today were born here. The project required five years and a total of 800 workers to transform the Hôtel-Dieu into a neighborhood hub with restaurants, boutiques, and the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie museum. The transformation included the addition of the 144-room hotel, its interiors designed by Jean-Philippe Nuel, known for his work turning heritage sites into hotels (e.g., the Molitor in Paris). The contemporary decor reflects the city’s history; for example, the silk accents are a nod to the historic silk weaving industry. Duplex Suites come with enormous, 20-foot windows that frame views of the Rhône River. Linger over a drink at Le Dôme, a bar housed under the soaring vaulted ceilings of the building’s former chapel. The Panthéon cocktail, made with St.-Germain liqueur, vodka, white tea, and a house-made champagne syrup, pays homage to Jacques-Germain Soufflot, the architect who designed both the Paris landmark and the Hôtel Dieu’s 18th-century facade." - Lindsey Tramuta, Mary Winston Nicklin
