The S.S.
Catherine leaves the twin towns of Tain L’Hermitage-Tournon behind and sails 77km north, reaching Lyon tonight. Captain
Pascal skillfully navigates four more locks en route: Gergans,
Sablons Vaugris & Pierre-Benite, docking at Quai Claude Bernard in Lyon,
near the Pont de l'Université bridge. Lyon is the
third largest city in France, after Paris and Marseille, and the capital of both
the Rhône department
and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. We are
nearing the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers.
Pont de l'Universite bridge @ Christie
Our morning begins with a guided walking tour weaving through Vieux Lyon through a warren
of cobblestone streets, exploring the secret passageways called Traboules. During the 19th century these passages
were once used
to link courtyards, stairs, and homes to the Rhône River. They allow silk weavers to
transport their precious silks in inclement weather. In the 20th century, some passageways were used as escape routes and hiding places during
the German occupation. Today you can visit some 40 Traboules that are open to tourists
but also used by residents as public corridors and community courtyards. You can locate the Traboules route by the decorative signage, a bronze plaque with a lion’s head, and
arrow pointing the way.
Our tour of Lyon would not be complete without a stop at Brochier Soieries, an 1890 silk shop specializing in handcrafted silk fabrics, scarves, ties and other high quality made-in France products. The family is dedicated to keeping the 16th century Lyon traditional industry alive for multiple generations.
Brochier Soieries 1890
