Highlights and Hidden Gems of Lyon
Tour description
Hi! My name is Paul, and I’d love to take you on a walk through two of my favorite neighborhoods in Lyon — Croix-Rousse and Vieux Lyon.
We’ll start in Place des Terreaux, surrounded by the majestic Hôtel de Ville and Bartholdi Fountain, before walking into Croix-Rousse, the historic heart of Lyon’s silk industry. As we wander through the old traboules, the hidden passageways, you’ll hear about the lives of the silk workers — the canuts — and how their struggles and revolts inspired thinkers like Karl Marx.
You’ll also discover how Joseph-Marie Jacquard’s invention — a loom that used punch cards — helped inspire the first ideas behind modern computing.
I’ll tell you about Jean Moulin the leader of the French Resistance, and how Leynaud, a poet and friend of Albert Camus, left his mark on the city’s wartime story.
From the ancient Roman amphitheatre, we’ll enjoy a sweeping view over the city, and I’ll tell you the difference between a Roman theatre and an amphitheatre.
As we head down toward Vieux Lyon, we’ll stop at the Fresque des Lyonnais, where you’ll meet the city’s most famous sons and daughters — from the Lumière brothers to Paul Bocuse.
Then we’ll slip into the old town, with its hidden courtyards and secret passageways tucked behind unmarked doors.
We’ll finish in the lively heart of Vieux Lyon — just in time for lunch, if you’d like some local recommendations!
It’s a relaxed, story-filled walk through Lyon’s layered history — from Roman stones to silk threads to the digital age.
What will we see on this tour?
