The cours Brillier runs at right angles to the river, with the tourist office at no. 3, near quai Jean-Jaurès (Mon–Sat 9am–noon & 1.30–6.30pm; Sun 10–noon & 1.30–5pm; tel 04.74.53.80.30, www.vienne-tourisme.fr), and the gare SNCF at the other end. Halfway up the cours, rue Boson leads up to the west front of the cathedral.If you plan to stay, the Poste, 47 cours Romestang (tel 04.74.85.02.04, fax 04.74.85.16.17; €40–55), between the station and place de Miremont, has an excellent restaurant and good rooms overlooking the cours. One of the few other budget options is the Ibis, by the gare routière in place Camille-Jouffray (tel 04.74.78.41.11, fax 04.78.85.42.28; €55–70), just down from the tourist office. The Hotel Central is well located, as the name implies, but the quality of the rooms is somewhat inconsistent (tel 04.74.85.18.38, [email protected]; €55–70). If you have your own transport, however, you should stay at the Château des Sept Fontaines, 5km northwest on the N7 at Seyssuel (tel 04.74.85.25.70, www.hotel7fontaines.com; €55–70; closed Dec–April), with a large garden, sauna, gym and comfortable rooms. There's also an HI hostel on the other side of the park from the tourist office at 11 quai Riondet (tel 04.74.53.21.97, fax 04.74.31.98.93; reserve ahead Fri–Sun mid-Sept–mid-May). The old town has a number of promising places to eat, including a good selection of cheapies in rue de la Table Ronde (near St-André-le-Bas), among them L'Estancot at no. 4 (tel 04.74.85.12.09; closed Mon & Sun) and Au Petit Chez Soi at no. 6 (tel 04.74.85.19.77; closed Sun & Wed), serving moules frites for €10.50. Alternatively, Le Bec Fin, 7 place St-Maurice (tel 04.74.85.76.72; closed Sun eve & Mon), offers filling menus of Lyonnais dishes from €17. However, if you fancy a splurge, head for the superlative restaurant in the hotel La Pyramide, 14 bd Fernand-Point (tel 04.74.53.01.96; closed Tues & Wed), with weekday menus from €47.50 to €110; going à la carte will cost you at least €85. For drinking, there are a number of bars in town, including Les 12 Mesures in rue des Clercs, The Celtic House in rue Allmer, and The West Saloon, with live blues at weekends, on rue de la Table Ronde. For Internet access, go to Surf en Ville, at 16 rue des Clercs (Mon–Sat 10.30am–8pm).
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