About this tour
Explore Lyon's 400-year silk heritage across the hillside quarters and into working ateliers where artisans still operate 19th-century Jacquard looms. This three-hour tour weaves together the chemistry of dye, the biology of bombyx moths, and the craft of hand-painted velvet—revealing how a single fabric connects textile history, fashion, and one of France's last family-run mills.
Highlights
- Watch silk thread come alive on original 1800s Jacquard loom
- Traboule passageways hidden through Croix-Rousse tenements
- Bombyx moths on display (May to October seasonal)
- Hand-painted napped velvet demonstration with artisans
- Vieux-Lyon workshops still producing luxury made-in-France silk
- Learn the chemistry behind silk dyeing and finishing
What to expect
You'll navigate the steep, winding streets of Croix-Rousse, ducking through traboules—the covered passageways silk workers once used to move between homes and looms. The tour drops into workshops where you'll see craftspeople at actual looms, explaining techniques passed down generations. Expect hands-on moments: touching raw and finished silk, watching thread transform under dye, observing living silkworms (seasonal). The ateliers are intimate, working spaces, not polished museums. Guides speak with genuine passion about their trade's survival.
Good to know
Wear comfortable shoes with good grip—cobblestone streets and many stairs are unavoidable. The silkworm exhibition runs May to October only. Moderate fitness required; several steep descents and climbs. Public transport nearby; private cars not included. Service animals welcome.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.