Excursions program
HALF DAY (4 hours) with coach and guide
- Fourvière, Gadagne or Gallo-Roman museum and Lyon old city
Route to Fourviere hill: An amazing viewpoint over the Peninsula and the west bank of the Rhône overlooked by the tower of Crédit Lyonnais bank, in good weather, also the Alps and the Mont Blanc. Rapid visit of the basilica. Guided visit of one of the following museums: Gadagne Museum Located in Vieux-Lyon this museum is set in a16th Century residence of Hôtel Renaissance. The Gadagne Museum evokes Lyon’s history, from the Middle Ages to the 19th Century. Vieux Lyon Or Gallo Roman Museum of Lyon Fourviere Lyon, former Gaul capital and the heir to a wealth of Gallo-Roman heritage, created the Fourviere site which is an exceptional place of remembrance, enriched with a exceptional history and character. Made unique by the richness of its collections, environment, and elaborate architecture, the museum offers a real journey through time. A number of shows throughout the year. Walk tour in Old City, the unique Saint John district, lately restored, preserving houses and buildings. This largest Renaissance city in Europe after Venice had been recently awarded as World Heritage site by Unesco. It is also the heart of Lyon for pleasant atmosphere, boutiques, antics, pubs and restaurants. Discover the famous “traboules”, passageways between 2 buildings…
- Wednesday, Afternoon
- 46 €
- Fourvière, Lyon old city and Cruise
Route to Fourviere hill: An amazing viewpoint over the Peninsula and the west bank of the Rhône overlooked by the tower of Crédit Lyonnais bank, in good weather, also the Alps and the Mont Blanc. Rapid visit of the basilica. Descent to the Old city via the Antic Theatre and Odeum for comments. Descent through the Rosaire’s gardens if the weather is fine and according the good form of eachone. River Walk tour in Old City, the unique Saint John district, lately restored, preserving houses and buildings. This largest Renaissance city in Europe after Venice had been recently awarded as World Heritage site by Unesco. It is also the heart of Lyon for pleasant atmosphere, boutiques, antics, pubs and restaurants. Discover the famous “traboules”, passageways between 2 buildings… Embarkment for a 1 hour river cruise. Discover the Old Renaissance Town, and feel the pleasure of drifting with the Saone River or/and The Rhône.
- 52 €
- The Traditional silk
It was silk which, in the 16C, made Lyon a major industrial city; until then most of the silk fabrics in France has been imported from Italy. Silk The Croix-Rousse district was filled with its characteristic house workshops – the upper storeys contained the looms on which the workers wove the silk provided by the manufacturer. Only a few looms continued to exist in Lyon, capable of producing special fabrics. Visit one of the last home workers cooperative who perpetuate the traditions of Lyon silk. They produce high quality fabrics and you will attend an exhibition of old fabrics and you will be shown how a draw loom and a velvet loom work. Go down of the Croix Rousse hill via the famous Traboules. The traboules were built to link buildings together. These passageways consist of corridor with vaulted or coffered ceiling. Silk You will be introduced to the typical skill and know-how : “the silk printing à la Lyonnaise”. The colouring of the silk squares is the last stage of a long succession of craft procedures. The printer distributes the colour in the frame and the print will be transferred, via a fine-knit gauze, to the white silk below. Printed scarves will appear in front of your eyes. The famous silk workers such as Hermès or Cardin use this know-how to create their silk squares. The shop offers a wide range of articles: Ties, handkerchiefs, shawls, squares, chiffon, panne velvet, scarves printed in the workshop.
- Monday, Afternoon
- 52 €
FULL DAY (9 hours) with coach, guide and driver
- Painted walls, Halles and Traditional silk
The painted walls circuit, wall fresco and true open air museum, has now become a mirror of the city. For more than 20 years, the arts of the « City of Creation » display it with colours and in trompe l’oeil. Enjoy this gallery, with different walls all over the town. Then visit the famous « Halles de Lyon », covered market where the renowned lyonnaise cooks do their shopping. Tasting of the fine products (charcuterie or cheese with a glass of local wine). Lunch in a typical “Bouchon Lyonnais” where you will taste the highlights of the local cuisine in a friendly atmosphere (including drinks). Route to Croix Rousse hill : This district was filled with its characteristic house workshops – the upper storeys contained the looms on which the workers wove the silk provided by the manufacturer. Only a few looms continued to exist in Lyon, capable of producing special fabrics. Cooperative Visit one of the last home workers cooperative who perpetuate the traditions of Lyon silk. They produce high quality fabrics and you will attend an exhibition of old fabrics and you will be shown how a draw loom and a velvet loom work. Go down of the Croix Rousse hill via the famous Traboules. The traboules were built to link buildings together. These passageways consist of corridor with vaulted or coffered ceiling.
- Tuesday, All day
- 52 €
- Fine arts museum, Cruise and Pérouges
The Fine Arts Museum is one of the largest French and European museums. Located in the heart of Lyon, between the Rhône and Saône rivers, it is found in a magnificent building dating from the 17th century. The collections are exhibited in over 70 rooms and offer visitors an outstanding sample of art from antiquity to contemporary art. The museum is regularly enriched, through an active acquisition policy that relies on donors, art lovers, collectors and the descendants of artists. Embarkment for a 1 hour river cruise. Discover the Old Renaissance Town, and feel the pleasure of drifting with the Saone River or/and The Rhône. Traditional lunch with drinks. Departure to Pérouges. Guided tour in Pérouges, an exceptional medieval city where the noble’s and more modest artisan’s houses lend a most picturesque touch to winding and unevenly paved streets. Most facades still present lattice windows, and several houses have their own parapet walk with crenellation and loopholes. Ending the visit, a tea party is organised at the unique Ostellerie, where Bill Clinton set his headquarters during the 1997 G7 in Lyon. We shall appreciate both the sparkling rosé wine of Montagnieu and the delicious Galette Pérougienne.
- Wednesday, All day
- 112 €
- Beaujolais
Morning in the scenic south Beaujolais, named from its glowing och re rocks as “Country of Golden Stone”. Visit the typical medieval village of Oingt, which is overlooking the hilly Valley d’Azergues followed by a visit of the Romanesque Cloister in Salles (XII – XIV C), with its astonishing beguine convent of the Canon-Countesses. Close to the Mont Brouilly, in the vintage area, enjoy a wine tasting of a great « Cotes de Brouilly », that could be at the famous Chateau de La Chaize. Lunch in an excellent restaurant. The tour takes us to the village of Romaneche-Thorins. We discover here this exclusive wine museum, displaying history of transport, bottling process, marketing of labels, production of corks, work of barrels… At the end of the visit, tasting of vintages selected by Georges Duboeuf in the grand Ballroom.
- Thursday, All day
- 116 € (lunch 3 courses & drinks)
- Brou’s church and Pérouges
Departure to the Bresse region with a stop in the medieval town of Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne with its half-timbered houses, bridges and banks of flowers, the fifteenth-century hall, St. Andrew’s Gothic church and ancient fortifications such as the Old Castle and the Villars’ door. Route to the Royal Monastery of Brou, close to Bourg en Bresse. Brou’s church Visit the Church of Brou, the most famous part of the monastery for its tombs, stained glass and numerous sculptures, belonging to the National Monuments. Visit Monastic buildings constructed around three-storey cloisters which are distinguished by their beauty and size and reflect a truly princely foundation. Visit the museum exhibitions in the chapter houses, ancient sculpture. In the old monks’ cells, paintings of the XVI to XX century decorative arts (furniture from Lyon of the XVI and XVIII century, furniture from Bresse, ceramics, etc..) Traditional lunch in Brou or Bourg en Bresse. Then you will take lakes of the Dombes route, which owes its original character and charm to the presence of a thousand lakes. Flowery villages, farms, red brick castle, decorate the vast landscapes flown over by thousands of migratory birds. Thanks to the poultries, the Dombes became one of the Mecca of gastronomy. Guided tour in Pérouges, an exceptional medieval city where the noble’s and more modest artisan’s houses lend a most picturesque touch to winding and unevenly paved streets. Most facades still present lattice windows, and several houses have their own parapet walk with crenellation and loopholes. Ending the visit, a tea party is organised at the unique Ostellerie, where Bill Clinton set his headquarters during the 1997 G7 in Lyon. We shall appreciate both the sparkling rosé wine of Montagnieu and the delicious Galette Pérougienne.
- Friday, All day
- 117 € (lunch 3 courses & drinks)
- Lakes of Savoie : Le Bourget and Annecy
Departure through the alpine’s highways to Abbey of Hautecombe, overlooking the Bourget Lake and housing the tombs of the Princes of Savoy. Annecy’s Lake Then boarding and crossing the lake, so dear to romanticism Lamartine, to Aix les Bains, city of waters. Road to Annecy and lunch. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, Annecy’s Lake is one of the finest and purest in Europe, from the boat you will hae the opportunity to enjoy an 1 hour cruise with excellent panoramic views. Then, guided tour of the city of Annecy, and especially the old city, which stretches along the charming Thiou canal, lined terraces, shops and entertainment. She kept quiet and romantic charm of a mountain village, beautifully flowered and highlighted.
- Monday, All day
- 118 €
- Hautecombe Abbay is closed on Tuesday.