Lyon: private tour with local ARTIST & visit of his atelier Lyon: 4-hour tour with local ARTIST & visit of his atelier

Embark on a sensory journey through Lyon’s legendary silk weaver district with a local artist. Get an exclusive peek into a PRIVATE (!) "traboule" and his historic atelier (1650) with praline tasting.
Meet up with the local artist Roman Kroke and discover the soul of the district through his poetic perspective: for 7 years he has been researching and transforming Lyon’s anecdotes into charcoal drawings, poetry and experimental installations – in partnership with museums, universities and scientific research institutes throughout Europe.

Reference of quality: Due to his innovative storytelling, Roman has developed tours & atelier visits for the Musées Gadagne (Historical Museum of Lyon) and the official travel program of STUDIOSUS, the European market leader in the field of cultural study tours. Roman will adapt the concept of the tour to the age, background and preferences of your group. In his projects, participants have ranged from primary school kids to academic professors, from university students to refugees and inmates of high security prisons.

During a sensory journey through his neighbourhood, Roman introduces you to its emblematic figures of the PAST as well as its PRESENT-DAY inhabitants: historic icons from the silk weavers' milieu, the legendary “Lyon Mothers” (“Mère Lyonnaises” = a group of female cooks who are considered the cornerstone of France’s regional gastronomic heritage), contemporary street artists and emerging fashion designers. Don’t miss Roman’s thought-provoking view on the city’s most photographed piece of street-art: “Straight into the wall” (“Droit dans le mur”), two legs stuck in the air entering into a dialogue with the ancient facade of Church Saint-Polycarpe.

Experience all these stories coming alive at your fingertips: TOUCH historical objects such as ancient weaving spindles, soup bowls and silkworm cocoons!

These impressions are the aperitif of the final highlight of the tour: Roman's atelier, a true mille-feuilles ("thousand-sheets") of history: It is situated in an historic building (1650) in the very heart of the silk weavers’ district. In the 1950s it was a so-called "clandé", a clandestine house of prostitution! Dive into this universe while tasting Lyon's signature candy: "La praline rose".

On your way into the atelier, you have the exclusive privilege of wandering through one of the very few remaining PRIVATE (!) "traboules" of the city. In the past, these secret passageways were used by silk weavers as well as resistant movements, an architectural curiosity and an absolute must-see – most of them have now been made publicly accessible for tourism.

In the atelier, Roman introduces you to his artworks, some of them still in the very process of creation. Through their stories you discover first-hand how the history & present of Lyon enter into resonance with his adventures at other ends of the world: his Pacific Ocean crossing from Canada to Singapore as part of a scientific expedition or his freediving with whale sharks in the Philippines.

Option: As a souvenir of your Lyon stay, you create together an experimental artwork – with original water from the two local rivers, Rhône & Saône!

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.