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Lyon · Mysteries & legends

Candles, Martyrs and Puppets: the Legends of Lyon

Lyon keeps its tales between Fourvière and the Saône: the aldermen's vow that gave rise to the Festival of Lights, the martyrs' blood said to have stained the river, a papal accident on a medieval slope, the puppet who spoke for the weavers and the hidden passages of Vieux Lyon. This route heads downhill at dusk, always separating what the records say from what tradition tells, and ends a few minutes from the bouchons for dinner.

  • 5 stops
  • 2.3 km
  • 1 h 45 min
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
Gilded statue of the Virgin on the bell tower of the Fourvière chapel, against the sky

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Basilica of Notre-Dame de FourvièreA vow against the plague, a golden Virgin and candles in the windows: the origin of the Festival of Lights.
  2. 2 Montée du GourguillonLyon's oldest slope, where legend sends the martyrs' blood flowing and history sent a pope tumbling.
  3. 3 Place de la Trinité and GuignolThe backdrop of Guignol, the puppet born speaking up for the silk weavers.
  4. 4 The Longue TrabouleA passage through four buildings: the longest traboule in Vieux Lyon and one of its best-kept secrets.
  5. 5 L'Homme de la RocheA German banker turned lay saint: the 'good German' who, Lyon says, paid for poor girls to marry.

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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

Candles, Martyrs and Puppets: the Legends of Lyon

Legends with an address

Each tale is tied to a statue, a slope, a square or a passage right in front of you.

Records and tradition

We separate proven facts from popular versions, so you can enjoy the mystery without mistaking it for history.

From the hill to the table

The walk runs downhill from Fourvière to the Saône and ends near Vieux Lyon, home of the bouchons.

Keep exploring

More routes in Lyon

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