2,000 Years of History: An Audio Tour of Vieux Lyon

Vieux Lyon holds more than 2,000 years of history within its narrow, cobbled streets. On this walking tour, you'll trace the city's story from its Roman foundations to its Renaissance golden age, when Florentine bankers and silk merchants made it one of Europe's wealthiest cities. Starting at Jardin André Malraux, you'll follow the remnants of the longest Roman aqueduct in France to Fourvière Basilica, with sweeping views over Lyon's two rivers. From there you'll descend into Vieux Lyon, the Renaissance old town nearly bulldozed in the 1950s before being saved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and duck through the city's longest secret passageway, snaking through five courtyards and four buildings. Along the way you'll hear how Eugénie Brazier became the first person to earn six Michelin stars, discover the origins of Lyon's Fête des Lumières traced back to a plague epidemic, and spot Ahmed — France's only Muslim gargoyle, carved by a sculptor in his own likeness.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   Pass by

   Explore the Théâtre Gallo Romain, one of France's most impressive Roman complexes, built in 15 BCE and expanded under Emperor Hadrian to seat up to 10,000 spectators. Marvel at the tiered stone seating still used for open-air concerts today, and trace the remnants of the Aqueduc du Gier nearby — once the longest Roman aqueduct in France at 75 kilometres.

2. 2

   Cimetiere de Loyasse

   Pass by

   Stroll through the Cimetière de Loyasse, Lyon's grand 19th-century hillside cemetery, the resting place of the city's longest-serving mayor and a remarkable faith healer who rose to become an advisor to the Russian Tsar. Discover how this quietly monumental space reflects the ambitions and eccentricities of a city that has always attracted outsized personalities.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   Pass by

   Marvel at the Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière, Lyon's iconic hilltop church completed in 1896, its ornate white facade visible from almost every point in the city below. Discover how its origins trace back to a plague epidemic and the Fête des Lumières, the festival of lights that Lyon still celebrates each December in one of Europe's most spectacular annual gatherings.

4. 4

   La Longue Traboule

   Pass by

   Walk through La Longue Traboule, Lyon's longest secret passageway, snaking through five courtyards and four Renaissance buildings before emerging onto a different street entirely. Discover how these hidden corridors, built to carry silk goods away from the rain, later sheltered Resistance fighters moving unseen through the city during the Nazi occupation.

5. 5

   Le Petit Musee de Guignol Fantastique

   Pass by

   Pass Le Petit Musée de Guignol, dedicated to Lyon's most beloved cultural export — the Guignol puppet, created in the early 19th century as a sharp-tongued satirical figure who gave voice to the city's silk workers. Learn how this small museum preserves the tradition of a character who has been making Lyonnais audiences laugh, and think, for over two centuries.

6. 6

   Cathedrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon

   Pass by

   Explore Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, a masterpiece of medieval architecture that took 300 years to complete, its foundations laid in the 12th century and its facade concealing a remarkable secret still visible today. Marvel at the cathedral's 14th-century astronomical clock, one of the oldest in existence, which chimes with animated figurines at noon each day in the heart of Vieux Lyon.

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.