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Lyon: Langue et Culture

Overview

Lyon is the perfect destination for an authentic French experience and this itinerary will help students immerse themselves in true French culture and give them the opportunity to practise their language skills in real-life situations.

The Old Town is a maze of quaint alleyways and the famous ‘traboules’, whilst climbing Fourvière Hill will give you views of the impressive Basilica, the well-preserved Roman amphitheatre, and, on a clear day, a tantalising glimpse of Switzerland.

You will also have the chance to visit the cultural centre, the Presqu’île where you’ll find Renaissance architecture, museums dedicated to Lyon’s history and an abundance of tasty eateries.

Our Suggested Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Flight to Lyon.

    Get your bearings on arrival in Lyon by joining a Guided Walking Tour with a passionate guide who will help you experience the city like a local.  Sights include la Croix-Rousse, les Quais de Saône and le Vieux Lyon.  There is the option for you to do this tour in French!

    Arrive and settle into your accommodation.

    Optional extra: discover authentic French cuisine at a local “Bouchon”.  No visit to Lyon is complete without dining at one!

  2. Day 2

    Spend your mornings at Language School, improving your grasp of the French language, then, have the opportunity to practise what you learn with native French people!

    In the afternoon, visit Lyon's famed indoor food market – Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse.  It has nearly five dozen stalls selling countless gourmet delights and is the perfect opportunity for students to practise their French.

    Spend some free time in Parc de la Tête d'or. Spanning 117 hectares, France's largest urban park is home to a lake, botanical gardens with greenhouses, rose gardens, a zoo, and a tourist train.

  3. Day 3

    Morning at Language School.

    Afterwards, hop on board a pleasure boat along the Rhône to discover the city's symbolic monuments from another angle.

    Then explore the famous secret passageways linking the streets of Vieux Lyon and discover their history - from the silk workers of the renaissance to the Army of Spies of the French Resistance.

    Climb to the very top of Lyon – Fourvière – for a spectacular view across the city and all the way to the Alps.  Visit the beautiful Basilica and take a trip on the world's oldest funicular railway.

  4. Day 4

    Morning at Language School.

    Then visit the Musée Miniature et Cinéma Museum, built to honour the exceptional but little-known talents of the film industry’s most skilled artists.

    Finish your day at the Musée de l’Histoire de Lyon, a late 15th-century Renaissance building telling the story of Lyon's past as well as defining Lyon's present. 

  5. Day 5

    Morning at Language School.

    Have some free time at Presqu’île – just between the Rhône and the Saône, it’s here that you’ll find the Hôtel de Ville and the famous shopping street Rue de la République. The perfect place to do some souvenir shopping before your journey home!

    Flight home.

School Trip Accommodation

Accommodation

We use a wide selection of accommodation throughout Lyon, mostly to the 2* standard - all especially suited to the requirements of our schools.  All accommodation we use is audited, and our auditing regime is verified by independent experts.