Lyon WWII and Resistance Tour with Audio Guide

4.5 (10 reviews) Lyon, France
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Duration3h - 4h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesGerman, English, French, Spanish
Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Explore Lyon's profound World War II narrative, where every street and square whispers stories of courage and resistance. The city stands as a living monument to human dignity, transforming historical trauma into a powerful testament of hope. From the secret stairways of Cour des Voraces to the silent tributes like Le Veilleur de Pierre, Lyon reveals layers of heroism hidden within its urban landscape.

Walk Rue Victor-Hugo and Place Bellecour, where ordinary citizens became extraordinary resistance fighters. Visit the CHRD Lyon to delve into the raw, unfiltered stories of those who defied Nazi occupation. Saint-Nizier Church and Hôtel de Ville bear witness to Lyon's unbreakable spirit, while murals and historic sites transform urban spaces into powerful historical narratives.

Each location is a chapter in a remarkable story of human resilience where art, heritage, and imagination intersect to honor those who fought for freedom against overwhelming odds.

What's included

  • Detailed directions to both well-known attractions and hidden spots
  • Audio Guide
  • 30+ narration points of popular locations in Lyon
  • Access to Self Lyon WWII & Resistance Full-Day Walking Tour on "Trippy Tour Guide" App
  • Fully offline map – no need for Wi-Fi or data.
  • Meals

What to expect

  1. 10m
    At 9 Cours Gambetta, six young Resistance leaders were arrested by the Gestapo in 1944. Their courage ended in execution, but their legacy lives on as symbols of youthful defiance and sacrifice.
  2. Centre D'histoire De La Resistance Et De La Deportation
    Pass by
    The CHRD honors Lyon’s role in the Resistance, housed in the former Gestapo HQ. It preserves testimonies, artifacts, and stories of courage, defiance, and the fight for justice during WWII.
  3. 10m
    Pont Gallieni spans the Rhône, a silent witness to wartime crossings and Resistance efforts. Once a lifeline for secret missions, it now flows peacefully through Lyon’s living history.
  4. Place Carnot
    15m
    Place Carnot’s Monument aux Morts honors Lyon’s fallen heroes of both World Wars and the Resistance. A site of remembrance, it’s central to Liberation Day and VE Day commemorations.
  5. Rue Victor Hugo
    10m
    Rue Victor-Hugo, now a lively shopping street, was once a vital artery for the Resistance where secret messages, whispered plans, and quiet courage helped fight Nazi occupation in the heart of Lyon.
  6. Place Bellecour
    15m
    Place Bellecour, Lyon’s central square, was once a key site of WWII occupation, arrests, and secret Resistance activity. Today, it stands as a vibrant tribute to the city’s enduring fight for freedom.
  7. La Place des Jacobins
    15m
    Place des Jacobins: once a Resistance hub, now a peaceful square honoring secret wartime bravery, underground presses, and heroic acts of rescue and defiance in Lyon’s Ainay Quarter.
  8. 10m · Admission ticket included
    Saint-Nizier Church, a Gothic landmark in Lyon, holds deep roots in history and defiance sheltering relics, surviving war, and even hosting a 1975 protest that echoed the spirit of Resistance.
  9. Place des Terreaux
    15m
    Place des Terreaux blends beauty with history, once a covert hub for Resistance fighters, now a vibrant square echoing Lyon’s past of courage, secret presses, and silent defiance.
  10. 10m
    Lyon’s City Hall, a grand symbol of civic pride, became a silent witness to WWII Resistance efforts and the city’s liberation. A place where history, defiance, and celebration all met.
  11. 5m
    At 12 Rue Sainte-Catherine, a plaque honors 86 Jews arrested by the Gestapo in 1943. This haunting site marks one of Lyon’s darkest Holocaust tragedies never forgotten, never erased.
  12. 5m
    A hidden Resistance letterbox where General Delestraint was arrested in 1943, marking a turning point in Lyon's fight against Nazi occupation. Quiet walls with echoes of courage and betrayal.
  13. Fontaine Burdeau
    15m
    A quiet fountain with wartime scars, honoring Auguste Burdeau and Lyon’s resilience, where even a missing statue tells a story of memory, loss, and the city’s enduring spirit.
  14. Amphitheater of the Three Gauls
    15m
    The Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls echoes ancient Rome, Christian martyrdom, and Lyon’s spirit of resistance, standing as a timeless witness to faith, courage, and defiance.
  15. Traboule et Cour des Voraces
    15m
    Cour des Voraces is a powerful symbol of Lyon’s spirit, from silk worker revolts to WWII Resistance. Its stairway and traboule served as escape routes and secret strongholds.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

The Tour starts at outside Montluc Prison Memorial

Before starting, make sure to check your email for instructions to access and download the tour within app.

End point

The Tour ends at Croix-Paquet which is the Last Stop

Additional information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

4.5 (10)
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