SIGHTSEEING TOUR: LYON – THE CITY OF HISTORY

Lyon is the second city and one of the oldest cities of France which is reputed as the gourmet capital of the country. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, Lyon was one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire, and capital of Gaul, an area comprising most of modern France and Belgium. Later it became famed as the capital of the French silk weaving industry and then a major textiles centre. Lyon sits at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers.
The old city is classed as a UNESCO World heritage site, there are plenty of places to see and visit, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the city's life and experiences.  

During the excursion you are invited to see:

• Place Bellecour - a large square in the centre of Lyon. This square forms the central focus of the Presqu'île (peninsula), between the Saône and the Rhône.
• Fourvière - a hill, rising abruptly from the river Saône and then gently sloping down to the north-west. It is the site of the original Roman settlement of Lugdunum (43 BC). Though it supports the world's two oldest and active funicular lines, it is primarily known for the Catholic Basilica of Fourvière.
• The Roman theatre and the smaller odeon – are the principal remains of the Roman city of Lugdunum which lie a couple of hundred meters south of the Basilica.
• The old city with the Cathedral Saint Jean - a mediaeval gothic cathedral most famed for its astronomic clock.
• The Place des Terreaux - a square located in the center of Lyon at the foot of the hill of La Croix-Rousse. The square belongs to the zone classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. At the center of the square we will admire a fountain of the Saône, made by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the Palais Sait-Pierre and the Musée des Beaux-Arts.

GUIDE SERVICES:
Duration: 3 hours
Price: EUR 190.00

(Car rental - at extra charge. Car category - on request)

Thematic tours in Lyon

1. LUMIÈRE BROTHERS MUSEUM

Cinema history lovers are invited to feel the atmosphere of the late 19th century and visit the Lumière brothers’ villa.
It was here where the brothers Lumière first invented and tested the process of film making. The museum "Villa Lumière" is located in a rich bourgeois mansion built in 1899. The villa which is also called "Lumière castle" initially belonged to the brothers’ father – Antoine Lumière.
A large museum collection tells the story about life and work of the famous French industrialists and inventors – Louis and Auguste Lumière. Next to the mansion you can find the old hangar of the first film – a humble reminder of the once huge factory premises. The first movie was shot in 1985 in front of this factory and was called "La sortie de l'usine Lumiere à Lyon".
Welcome to the place where the cinematography was born!

GUIDE SERVICES:
Duration: 2 hours
Price: EUR 150.00

Entry ticket – EUR 6.50, for groups of 7 pers. – EUR 5.00.
Museum is closed on Mondays.

2. THE TASTE OF LYON!

Many guests coming to Lyon well know about the famous Lyon cuisine and the "bouchons lyonnais" – the restaurants where you can taste the local specialties. The Lyon cuisine with its hot sausages, various dishes of pork, including offal, pike quenelles and the other meals rich in calories should be served with the red Beaujolais wine! Traditionally Beaujolais is called the third river of Lyon.
Those who wish to discover the Lyon culinary traditions are invited to visit the most "delicious" places of the city. Why not to walk through the gastronomic market of the famous chef Paul Bocuse where we can find his world known suppliers of cheese, bakery, sausages, plenty of sea products and so on.
On the way back you can drop over the chocolate master who cooks the signature cake "the President". Your guide will also offer you some interesting coffee & pastry shops where you will have a cup of good coffee!

GUIDE SERVICES:
Duration: 2 hours
Price: EUR 150.00

On request: culinary master-classes in Lyon and surroundings.

3. LYON SILK WEAVERS

The Croix-Rousse – is one of the principal Lyon hills as well as the name of the neighborhood located on this hill. The appearance of the neighborhood is heavily influenced by the central role that Lyon played in silk industry.
The vast majority of buildings in the area feature large vaulted ceilings with exposed wooden rafters. The larger internal height available in these buildings, compared to other areas in Lyon, was necessary to house the tall silk looms that were operated in the area. Of note, also, are the traboules of Croix-Rousse. These are covered passageways used by silk merchants to travel and ferry material between buildings while being sheltered from rain. It has since been subject to gentrification, and now exhibits a vibrant cultural scene. La Croix-Rousse has always possessed a unique atmosphere compared to the rest of the city. As an illustration, some inhabitants call themselves "Croix-roussiens" (Croix-Roussians).
Walking through the Croix-Rousse you can’t miss the Mur de Canuts (or "Silk Weavers' Wall") – the largest European monumental mural of 1200 sq.m.

GUIDE SERVICES:
Duration: 2 hours
Price: EUR 150.00

The visit of the CROIX-ROUSSE WEAVING STUDIOS with the demonstration of machines:
Price from EUR 5.00 to EUR 15.00 depending on studio.
This is a walking tour, but usually you are invited to take metro to go up the hill.
(Metro ticket price: EUR 1.70)

Number of persons: 1-10

For all details about transfers from Lyon - please read here