Discover the rich history and distinctive character of Lyon’s Croix-Rousse district on a guided walking tour through one of the city’s most iconic neighbourhoods.
Starting at Place des Terreaux, admire the City Hall, the Museum of Fine Arts and the impressive Bartholdi Fountain, created by the sculptor behind the Statue of Liberty. Learn about the square’s importance in Lyon’s political and cultural history before heading into the Pentes de la Croix-Rousse, once the centre of the city’s silk industry. Walk along the Montée de la Grande Côte and admire the unique 19th-century buildings, designed with high ceilings and large windows to accommodate the famous Canuts silk workshops.
Explore Lyon’s hidden traboules, historic passageways used to transport valuable fabrics, and discover the Cour des Voraces, known for its monumental staircase and its role in both the Canut revolts and the French Resistance.
The tour continues to the Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls, founded in 19 AD, where you’ll learn about its significance during Roman times and the story of Lyon’s first Christian martyrs. Finish at the spectacular Mur des Canuts, one of Europe’s largest murals, celebrating the history, daily life and identity of Croix-Rousse through a remarkable trompe-l'œil artwork.
