Capital of silk: Lyon
Today was dedicated to the discovery of magical Lyon, a World Heritage city known as the Capital of Gourmet Cuisine. The Fourviere Basilica, with its breathtaking view of the city, was our first stop.
We then visited the superb Roman Theater built in 43 AD, and then walked down through the medieval part of the city to the Renaissance quarter, the second biggest renaissance quarter in the world, listed World Heritage by UNESCO.
Lyon was the silk capital in the 19th century. They were thousand of silk workers, called the “canuts”, in Lyon. Today, they are only 9 silk weavers left working in 3 different workshops. We visited one of them. la “Soierie St Georges”.
Do you know that velvet is a technique and not a material? The silk weaver gave us a demonstration on how to make velvet on a 18th century loom.
You can find wonderful silk scarves and some velvet.
Too many choices!!!!!
Patty and Joyce, the 2 shoppers from the group were in heaven and found the scarves they wanted.
My name is Jackie Grandchamps. In 2003, I founded French Escapade, offering another way to travel in small groups of 8. "Don't be a tourist, be our guest" is the moto and spirit of my company.
Check www.frenchescapade.com
Through this blog, I will provide information about France, Belgium, California, (soon Italy) but also some stories from my guests on the tours.
Learn more about the company in the French Escapade section of this blog.
May 24th, 2008 at 5:37 am
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog.
Tim Ramsey
May 26th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Thank you so much for your comment. I really appreciate you telling me that you enjoy the blog.