Festival Lumière: Discover Lyon Through Cinema and Gastronomy
Follow in the footsteps of the silver screen, in the city where cinema was born
During the Festival Lumière, Lyon once again celebrates cinema in all its splendour. And while the big screen lies at the heart of the festival, the city itself deserves a starring role.
From the elegant façades of the Presqu’île to the cobbled streets of Vieux-Lyon, countless locations across the city have provided the backdrop for actors, directors and memorable films over the decades.
To experience this cinematic heritage from a different perspective, Gourmet Getaways has created a special experience for the festival: the Walking Tour Signature Lumière, a private journey combining cinema, heritage and Lyon’s celebrated gastronomy.
Lyon: a cinematic backdrop brought to life
Over two and a half hours, the tour invites guests to see Lyon through the eyes of a film lover.
The Palais Saint-Pierre and Place des Terreaux recall scenes from The Kiss, starring Hollywood icon Greta Garbo, Vieille Canaille, with Michel Serrault and Anna Galiena, and Barbecue, starring Lambert Wilson and Florence Foresti.
Further along, the Presqu’île brings to mind Bertrand Tavernier’s The Clockmaker of St. Paul, starring Philippe Noiret, while the Palais de la Bourse provides the setting for Alice and the Mayor, with Fabrice Luchini. At Le Cintra, the world of Romantics Anonymous, starring Isabelle Carré and Benoît Poelvoorde, comes to life once more.
Using the Lorens app, selected scenes can be viewed along the way, allowing guests to compare moments from the films with the very locations in which they were shot.
Where cinema meets Lyonnaise gastronomy
In Lyon, no story is complete without gastronomy.
The itinerary created by Gourmet Getaways therefore includes four artisan tastings, each carefully selected as a celebration of the city’s culinary heritage.
The experience begins with an exquisite artisan éclair from Les Éclaireurs, created by the Luyat brothers. At Charcuterie Bonnard, guests discover Lyon’s charcuterie tradition through a trio of pâté en croûte, artisan quenelle and premium rosette sausage.
The Passage de l’Argue then offers a change of scene and a delightfully nostalgic interlude, with pink pralines and traditional local confectionery from Violette & Berlingot.
Each stop reveals another side of Lyon through its flavours, artisans and time-honoured savoir-faire.
From Vieux-Lyon to legends of the silver screen
Crossing the Saône, the tour continues into Vieux-Lyon and across the Palais de Justice footbridge, offering a privileged view of the famous 24 Columns.
Here too, Lyon’s history and the world of cinema intertwine: Verdict, starring Sophia Loren and Jean Gabin; Jean-Pierre Melville’s Army of Shadows, with Lino Ventura and Simone Signoret; A Gang Story, starring Gérard Lanvin; and The Unbearable Lightness of Being, with Daniel Day-Lewis and Juliette Binoche.
The route also passes the Musée Cinéma et Miniature, where guests may choose to extend their experience with an independent visit.
Extend the experience to Monplaisir
For film enthusiasts wishing to delve even deeper into Lyon’s cinematic heritage, the experience can continue in the Monplaisir district, the birthplace of the Lumière story.
It is a unique opportunity to connect Lyon’s more contemporary film locations with the very place where the story of the cinematograph began.
A final toast beneath the Grand Hôtel-Dieu dome
Back on the Presqu’île, the experience can conclude at the Grand Hôtel-Dieu, one of the emblematic settings of the Festival Lumière.
Beneath the majestic Soufflot dome at Le Dôme, a glass of wine from Domaine des St Olive or a signature mocktail provides the perfect final scene to this cinematic journey.
An experience designed for those wishing to discover the Festival Lumière from a different perspective – with Lyon itself as the setting for their own cinematic story.
Practical information
The Walking Tour Signature Lumière is an experience offered by Gourmet Getaways, tailor made for the InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu guests during the Festival Lumière.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Minimum booking: 2 guests
Included: expert trilingual guide, four artisan tastings, curated storytelling throughout the tour and a VIP table reservation for dinner.
Private chauffeur-driven transfers, as well as admission to the Institut Lumière and Musée Cinéma et Miniature, can be arranged as optional extras.
An experience by Gourmet Getaways, specially created for the Festival Lumière.
For any information or reservation, please contact Gourmet Getaways.
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