Begin at Place des Terreaux, one of Lyon’s most iconic squares, surrounded by the City Hall and the Museum of Fine Arts. Admire the famous Bartholdi Fountain, created by the same sculptor behind the Statue of Liberty, and learn how this monumental square became one of the city’s historic and political centers.
Continue into the Pentes de la Croix-Rousse, the steep slopes once home to the Canuts, Lyon’s silk workers. Walk along the Montée de la Grande Côte and discover the district’s distinctive 19th-century architecture, built specifically for silk production with high ceilings and large windows designed to bring natural light into weaving workshops. Today, the area blends its working-class history with a lively artistic atmosphere filled with galleries, cafés and independent studios.
Explore Lyon’s famous traboules, the hidden passageways connecting streets through buildings, originally used by silk workers to transport precious fabrics protected from the rain. Visit the Cour des Voraces, one of the city’s most emblematic courtyards, known for its monumental staircase and its role during the Canut revolts and the French Resistance.
The tour continues to the Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls, the oldest Roman amphitheatre in Gaul, founded in 19 AD. Discover the remains of this ancient site where representatives of the Gallic tribes once gathered under Roman rule and hear the story of the first Christian martyrs of Lyon.
Conclude at the Mur des Canuts, one of Europe’s largest murals. This impressive trompe-l'œil fresco recreates the everyday life of Croix-Rousse and pays tribute to the district’s residents, history and evolving identity.
Throughout the tour, your guide will share stories combining history, architecture, art and local culture, offering a deeper understanding of one of Lyon’s most fascinating neighborhoods.
