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Lyon · History

From Lugdunum to the Canuts: 2,000 Years of Lyon on Foot

Lyon has been a Roman capital, a seat of Church councils, a financial hub of Europe, a cradle of printing and a silk factory. This route comes down the hill of Fourvière into Vieux Lyon, crosses the Saône to the Presqu'île and climbs the slopes of the Croix-Rousse, following the thread of twenty centuries. Get your legs ready: there are hills, stairs and, if you like, a funicular.

  • 6 stops
  • 3.2 km
  • 2 h 30 min
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
Semicircular stone tiers of the Roman theatre of Fourvière, surrounded by trees

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Roman Theatres of FourvièreThe seats of Lugdunum, the city Rome turned into the capital of the Gauls.
  2. 2 Saint-Jean CathedralThe primatial church of the Gauls, where two councils met, a pope was crowned and Henri IV was married.
  3. 3 Place du Change and the Loge du ChangeThe square where Italian bankers moved half of Europe's money during the Renaissance fairs.
  4. 4 Hôtel de la Couronne, Printing MuseumThe old town hall that now tells how Lyon became one of Europe's book capitals.
  5. 5 Amphitheatre of the Three GaulsWhere the sixty Gaulish peoples gathered and where, historians believe, the martyrs of 177 died.
  6. 6 Cour des VoracesA six-storey staircase in the heart of the canut district, home of the silk weavers who rose up in 1831.

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Start with GPS

Guide mode

Walk it with GPS.

Open guide mode on your phone: you’ll see your position and the distance to each stop, and we’ll let you know when you arrive. Then read or listen.

Start with GPS

  1. Turn on your location

  2. Walk to the spot

  3. Check the photo and listen

What you’ll discover

From Lugdunum to the Canuts: 2,000 Years of Lyon on Foot

Twenty centuries, three hills

From Roman Lugdunum to the canut revolt of 1831, every stop is a different chapter in the city's story.

Stones that talk

Roman seating, Gothic portals, a bankers' exchange and a workers' staircase: everything can be seen from the street.

Checked facts

Dates and names cross-checked against official and specialist sources, with no legends dressed up as history.

Keep exploring

More routes in Lyon

Back to Lyon
Mysteries & legendsCandles, Martyrs and Puppets: the Legends of Lyon MixedThe Best of Lyon: from Bellecour up to the Croix-Rousse

Itineraries

How many days do you have in Lyon?

We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.

1

Lyon in 1 day

All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.

See the itinerary 2

Lyon in 2 days

A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.

See the itinerary 3

Lyon in 3 days

The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.

See the itinerary