Need help? Our Lyon City Experts at your service

Old Lyon's Renaissance district and its traboules

Guided tours
Old Lyon's Renaissance district and its traboules

Take a historical tour of Medieval and Renaissance Lyon.

From the church of Saint Paul to that of Saint Georges, Vieux-Lyon extends over 24 hectares along the banks of the Saône. 

The tour begins with a walk through the narrow cobbled alleyways! This guided tour reveals superbly renovated architectural treasures: internal courtyards, Italian-style galleries, wells, spiral staircases...

Along the way you'll encounter essential monuments such as La Maison du Chamarier, the Hôtel de Gadagne or La Loge du Change. 

Explore the remains of the churches of Sainte Croix and Saint Etienne backing onto Saint Jean, which is truly symbolic of the power of the church in Lyon at that time.

Your guide will tell you the secrets and anecdotes which have made the reputation of this historical district, the 1st preserved sector in France to have been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.


The advantages of this visit

You will be able to discover during this guided tour

  • A unique area of Renaissance architecture
  • Traboules and courtyards
  • The Cathédrale Saint-Jean (depending on the duration of the visit)

The guides

Delphine Delphine

Hej, hallo, hello, bonjour I'm Delphine, one of the twenty or so lecturing guides that work for the Guides' Bureau.Our service is incredibly rich: we all have our own profiles, our own interests, our own areas of study and our own favourite type of public.

And we all have one thing in common: LYON

What I love is the variety of its districts and their architecture, the wealth and diversity of its history and the Men who built it, the beauty of its monuments, particularly the light reflected from the façades that border the Saône early in the morning or at the end of the day; it's a trip in itself!

So after language studies which took me to live in Denmark and Germany, I returned to Lyon to work as a guide to lift the veil on "Myrelingues la Brumeuse"* and to share my enthusiasm with you who have come here to discover it or immerse yourself in it. (*title of a book by Claude le Marguet, set in 1536 in Lyon)

Paa gensyn, bis bald, see you soon, à bientôt !

Laurence Laurence

All I need is a sturdy pair of shoes and a good hat, and I'm ready to take you on a "voyage through our city" I'll be delighted to take you on a discovery tour of our "landmark" sights as well as my own favourites.

In other words, I'd like to help you gain insight into the soul of our city! And on the way, I'll tell you all about the history and art of our UNESCO-listed capital.

Jérôme Jérôme

During tours, people often ask me if I'm a student. I'm too old for that. I'm a historian without the qualifications. I'm an architect without the diploma. But I was born in Lyon, and I enjoy helping members of the public discover this city which is a lot more than just a row of lovely façades.

You have to get a feel for the substance of the past, the depth of roots, the art of construction, the relation with light, the appeal of good food, one's relationship with a site, and the diversity of the different areas.

What you see counts of course, but as far as I'm concerned, a tour is only successful when people have had a good time, when I've managed, throughout the tour, to take them behind the scenes, to give them a sense of how people lived in those days and how we live in the city today.

I'm often delighted to hear people say they want to come back and spend more time here.

Anne Anne

I started out by working as a lecturing guide for a travel agency for 7 years. Then I decided to settle permanently and resumed my initial job as a guide in my hometown.

I have a passion for History, and the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in particular, and the history of art, and therefore particularly enjoy being in this city which boasts several centuries of history.

I love good food, and really blossom in this capital of gastronomy, where good food is part of local culture. So I quite naturally took an interest in the history of food and chefs.

So many passions I intend to share with you during your next visit.

Kind regards from Lyon!

Anneliese Anneliese

Lyon has been my city of adoption for several decades now, so as a polyglot with a lovely Austrian accent to boot and a passion for Lyon, I'm here to take you on a discovery tour of the city and its surrounding areas.

I'll be delighted to guide you through this great city, from Roman times to the 21st century!

Catherine Catherine

"Look and listen to the stones of my city".

Teaching people to look, telling stories, making sense of things, that's mainly what motivates me in my job.

My own personal story has mainly unfolded in Lyon, which I have proudly seen blossom over the past decades.Sharing with visitors from all over the world -I speak English and German- the beauty of my city is a great pleasure to me, and an honour. But what I also like is talking to the locals themselves, while helping them understand the specific characteristics of their area.

Claude Claude

Lyon adopted me 34 years ago and I love it!

Studying languages and the history of art as well as having a passion for history determined my career as a lecturing guide.

Although I moved to Lyon by chance, I must admit I love this city and feel happy here!

I love Lyon for its past and present that combine and merge in the melting pot of history, and are also apparent in its incredible vitality that many city's envy!

I adore the uniqueness of Lyon… its glorious Roman past which archaeologists never tire of revisiting, as well as Vieux-Lyon, its Renaissance area (second only to Venice) and its secret and mysterious traboules.

My love for Lyon also resides in my love of food, as this world capital of gastronomy boasts a record of one restaurant for 294 people!

I love Lyon for its culture, its biennials and its museums which are the stuff dreams are made of!

So many reasons that explain why I'm so very attached to Lyon and wouldn't leave it for an empire..., as far as I'm concerned, it's ONLY LYON!

Fabienne Fabienne

How lucky I am to have been able to study the history of art and archaeology in Lyon. It's magic! From the Roman theatres to the Musée des Confluences, past, present and future combine in beauty and harmony, just like the gold, silver and silk threads woven by the canuts.

Let's set out for a spot of "trabouling" with Rabelais' ghost, who will lead us from Hôtel-Dieu to the wealthy homes of the merchant bankers in Vieux-Lyon, stopping at inns, bouchons or star-rated restaurants on the way…

Let your eyes feast on the golden light that's worthy of Italy, and gilds the slopes of Croix-Rousse on summer evenings as you stroll along the embankment amid the seagulls and boats.

I love this city because life is so sweet here, and I love telling visitors all about it, as the enthusiastic urbanist in me sees the city as a living organism.

Claire Claire

I was born in the north of France and decided to come to Lyon about fifteen years ago to finish my studies… and I've been here ever since!

My interest in foreign languages and heritage led me to study for a lecturing guide diploma prior to branching out to accompany groups in France and abroad

Having starting out in Bourgogne, I now work as a guide in Lyon and the surrounding area (Vienne, Beaujolais, southern Bourgogne, Pérouges).

What I still really enjoy about this job are the human encounters and the wide variety of themes broached. It's never boring!

My favourite place in Lyon: Les Jardins du Rosaire… an absolute must!

Christian Christian

Bringing together the past and present, and knowing that the future is always built on what came before: maybe these are the reasons I decided to become a tour guide… Who knows! Adopted by the city of Lyon, over time I have become an adequate Lyonnais and I would even venture to say that I am now as passionate about this city as any local!

I spent my childhood between Corsica and Tarare, just to the west of Lyon, which goes to show that anything is possible! I then studied tourism in Nice and Paris and began a career in the travel industry. Later, returning to my roots to settle down was the natural choice for me.

Magali Magali

The decision to change my choice of studies to the History of Art at university, then to attend the School of Art and Communication was an obvious choice.

I completed by studies with a diploma to be a lecturing guide, which is an essential prerequisite when training to be a guide…

Having always lived between Rhône and Saône, I love travelling the length and breadth of Lyon. With each new viewpoint, I add new touches to my internal painting of its landscape.

In a city that lies at the crossroads of so many different influences, I never tire of going from one area to another, experiencing the change of century, architecture and atmosphere.

Discovering Lyon, is also about meeting the locals, past and present, that have marked the city, and to whom we owe our heritage, our particular characteristics, our "lyonnitude".

Bénédicte Bénédicte

My tours invite you to view the city like a tightrope walker balancing between light-heartedness and knowledge, gastronomy and architecture, silk and alchemy, football and botany, cinema and historic periods... And many other subjects that are the essence of Lyon.

Although I'm interested in the world in general, I chose to return to the city where I grew up, not to work but to pursue a passion: guiding visitors through Lyon, my home town. I will take you on a trip through time, from past to future, in a city where you can never be bored, and where there's something of interest for every generation. .

So if you want to discover the different areas in Lyon like a real little "gone" (street urchin), don't hesitate to follow me! I've worn out many pairs of trainers in the traboules and on the slopes of the three hills, I'm acquainted with Guignol's entire repertoire, and know where you can enjoy the best mâchons.

If you're interested, I'll be waiting under the horse's tail!

Charlotte Charlotte

Originally from the countryside surrounding Lyon, I went travelling around the world before returning to Lyon, which many French people rate as the most beautiful city in France, except for their home town of course!

As a child, I always associated Lyon with the zoo in Tête d’Or Park, with its bear, elephants, lions and other animals. Later on, as an apprentice archaeologist in Fourvière, I discovered the city’s history and heritage.

I hope to share my passion for art and history with you during your stay and take you back through time as you discover the birth of this great city in the traboules (hidden passageways) of Vieux-Lyon (Old Lyon), imagine the sounds of the silk looms on the slopes of Croix-Rousse hill (where the silk industry once thrived), and learn about Lyon through its painted walls in the city centre. In short, I want to share my love for the city!

From Fourvière Basilica to the museums in the Presqu’île district, I know how to get children interested in history and heritage, without forgetting the parents of course! My tours are lively and dynamic, so you can feel the heartbeat of my city and feel at home.

Far away from Lyon, my specialism at university was Egyptology, and my second passion is Japan: once you get me started on these subjects it’s difficult to stop me!

Véronique Véronique

When seeking to share Lyon's heritage with people, I like to broach the question from the viewpoint of technical skills and know-how, and even economy, whether it's architecture and town planning, or vineyards and gastronomy.

Fiona Fiona

Located at a geographical crossroads, the city of Lyon has always warmly welcomed people of various origins, whether it’s for a drink, a meal, a stay or to live, as it did for me.

As a tour guide, I get to meet people from various regions, countries and cultural backgrounds every day. This is why I decided to study foreign languages (English and German).

Originally from Picardy, I settled in Lyon after tasting life in the laid-back Loire and bustling Paris. In the end, I had the greatest affinity with Lyon.Like Lyon, I love food: the Capital of Gastronomy is a mouthwatering place to be! Like Lyon, I have the gift of the gab: this city has more than 2000 years of history and anecdotes to tell. Like Lyon, I am curious: you need to explore behind the city’s façades and through its traboules to really get to know it. Lastly, like Lyon, I like a laugh: the city’s famous puppet Guignol and its cafés-théâtres are a delight!

Come with me to discover what you share with Lyon!

Fabien Fabien

Ch'ti d'origine et gone de cœur, je m'appelle Fabien. Diplômé en Histoire à l'université du Littoral (Pas-de-Calais) et titulaire de la carte de guide-conférencier depuis 2015, j'ai été frappé à mon arrivée par la beauté enchanteresse de la ville Lumière.

Et depuis, j'ai eu le plaisir de la faire découvrir à tous types de publics (enfants, scolaires, adultes) à travers son centre historique et ses périphéries, notamment le musée des Confluences.

Passionné par le patrimoine sous toutes ses formes (historique, naturel et géologique), ma curiosité m'amène à en apprendre toujours plus sur ces vieilles pierres lyonnaises qui ont une histoire que l'on n'oserait pas soupçonner !

Venez la découvrir !

Dorothée Dorothée

J’ai quitté ma Bretagne natale pour explorer d'autres contrées plus lointaines. Et après quelques séjours aux Etats-Unis, en Grande-Bretagne et en Espagne, où je me destinais à enseigner le français, je suis devenue accompagnatrice-touristique, puis guide conférencière.

C’est à Lyon, ma ville d’adoption, pour laquelle j’ai eu un véritable coup de cœur (pour son patrimoine mais aussi, je l’avoue, pour ses pralines roses !) que j’ai posé mes cartons.

Fascinée par les patrimoines multiples qui font la richesse de notre planète, je me passionne pour le patrimoine naturel, l'architecture antique ou contemporaine, pour notre héritage culturel et artistique, ou encore pour un personnage historique... Sans oublier notre patrimoine de tradition orale qui reste le plus fragile à transmettre : celui de l'univers des contes et légendes, que j’affectionne particulièrement.

C'est avec plaisir que je partagerai avec vous les petites et grandes histoires qui fourmillent à Lyon.

Ségolène Ségolène

Un voyage autour du monde m’a conduite de New-York à Sydney, d’Auckland à Oslo, de Bangkok à Tokyo… Emerveillement et choc des cultures ont déterminé ma vocation et m’ont orientée vers une formation de Guide Conférencière à Paris.

C’est avec un œil neuf que j’ai redécouvert les richesses de ma petite patrie lyonnaise, le plaisir de débarouler la grand ’côte ; de lézarder sur les quais de Saône, de fuir la canicule dans l’ombre d’une traboule …

Jadis Lyon fût surnommée Myrlingue la brumeuse ; les brumes se sont envolées mais à Lyon, à la confluences des cultures , on continue à parler une myriades de langues ! A notre époque où tout s’accélère, découvrons ensemble au rythme lent de la promenade, deux millénaires d’histoire lyonnaise.

Laissez-moi vous conter le Lyon d’hier à aujourd’hui et je suis sûre que, comme moi, vous y prendrez un grand plaisir.

Valentina Valentina

De mon Italie natale, je suis arrivée à Lyon pour y passer un weekend et je n’en suis jamais repartie ! Et c’est avec un bel accent qui chante que je vous fais découvrir ma ville d’adoption qui m’a séduite en un clin d’œil pour son histoire et sa gastronomie.

Mon amour pour la France commence il y a vingt ans. Alors jeune étudiante en histoire des arts à Naples, je préparais mon Erasmus à Lille. Le feeling grandissait et, pendant huit ans de Dolce Vita à Rome, mes escapades dans les archives de Paris et de Marseille étaient fréquentes. Enfin c’est Lyon qui m’a retenue, capturée et subjuguée en mêlant mon intérêt pour l’art et la gastronomie.

C’est avec passion que je vous conterai sa fondation par les Romains, avec gourmandise que je vous parlerai de bouchons et de plats typiques, avec mystère que je pousserai les portes des traboules, avec élégance que je vous promènerai le long des grands boulevards du 19ème et enfin c’est avec un peu d’ironie et d’irrévérence que je vous raconterai l’histoire de Guignol.

timer 2h00
circle-fr_FR circle-en_GB circle-it_IT circle-de_DE circle-es_ES circle-pt_PT circle-da_DK
As low as

30 people

maximum per group

map-pin
Location
& practical information

clock

Duration

2h visit

face-smile

Type

Walking guided tour

location-dot

Meeting place

At the exit of the Metro Station Vieux-Lyon, rue Adolphe Max - Lyon 5th

train-subway

Access

Metro D > Vieux-Lyon

Our online sales guarantees
lock Secure payment
check Reservation guaranteed
folder-heart No application fees
credit-card-front Debit of your card upon booking confirmation

Need help?

Our advisors are waiting for you

Our Lyon City Experts are waiting for you at the ONLYLYON pavilion on Place Bellecour, you'll find a team available 7 days a week from 9 am to 6 pm to make your stay in Lyon unforgettable!

Contact us

fa-messenger