Year 10 and 12 Trip to Lyon 2025

Day 1 – Arrival & First Impressions

Our adventure in Lyon began when we arrived at the hostel. It took a bit of time to check in, but we were filled with excitement. During lunchtime, we took a walk through the city and saw the beautiful Fontaine Bartholdi, with its dramatic statues of horses and splashing water. Right behind it stood the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), a stunning building that looked like it came out of a French painting. We also visited the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon, which was breathtaking with its Gothic design and peaceful atmosphere.

For lunch, we sat in Jardin de Curiosités, a small green park with amazing views of the city. We enjoyed fresh French baguettes while soaking in the scenery. To get there, we used a funicular — my first time on one, and it felt like a little rollercoaster! Later, we visited the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which stands high above the city. The view from the top was unforgettable — I probably took about 100 photos! In the evening, we had dinner at a traditional bouchon, a Lyonnaise restaurant known for its meat dishes. The food was warm and comforting, and the atmosphere was very friendly.

Day 2 – Learning Through Adventure

Every morning in Lyon started perfectly with a croissant or pain au chocolat, soft, crispy, and still warm. We visited Place Louis Pradel, where the Hôtel de Ville looked even more beautiful in the daylight. After that, we took a bus tour of Lyon, listening to French audio. I challenged myself to understand as much French as I could, and I surprised myself by catching quite a bit!

We saw many amazing places, such as the Opéra de Lyon with its modern glass rooftop and the Lycée La Martinière, a historic school with impressive architecture. One of the highlights was the Musée des Confluences, a science and anthropology museum designed to resemble a spaceship. Later, we strolled through the fancy streets, lined with designer shops like Louis Vuitton and Hugo Boss.

In the afternoon, we visited the Musée Miniature et Cinéma. The miniatures were so detailed that when I sent them to my family, they couldn't believe they weren't full-size! There were also real props from movies like Perfume, Alien, and Sleepy Hollow. That evening, we dined at a popular Lyonnaise restaurant. The steak was delicious, and I also tried crème brûlée and prunes, both sweet and tasty!

Day 3 – School Life & French Games

We visited a French school, Lycée Edouard Herriot, and it was exciting to learn about their education system. I helped some students practise their English and made a new friend named Amaline. We talked about music, hobbies, and our schools. After visiting the school, we played a French game called pétanque, where you try to throw metal balls as close as possible to a small ball. It was fun and felt very French!

For a lunch - we ate the food at the school canteen which was healthy and tasty! Later, in the evening, we had pizza for dinner,  honestly, one of the best pizzas I've ever had!

Day 4 – History, Art, and Hidden Passages

ThiLyon's was all about Lyon's rich history. We learn about "les canuts", the silk workers of Lyon. The most fascinating aspect was how they utilised early binary-like systems in their silk machines to control patterns, much like early computers.

After" that, we explored les traboules", secret passageways connecting streets and buildings. They were once used by silk workers and even by the French Resistance during World War II. Walking through them felt like a hidden adventure!

Later, we visited the famous Fresque des Lyonnais, a massive mural depicting 30 notable individuals from Lyon, including the Lumière brothers and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It took a year to paint and looked incredibly realistic. Lyon's sea came after Lyon's mayor saw a similar mural made by Lyonnais artists in Portugal.

We ended the day with a boat tour on the Saône River, which is green because it flows slowly and carries more algae.

Dinner was at a French-Canadian restaurant, where we enjoyed tasty burgers.

Day 5 – Goodbye, Lyon??? Almost!

Our last full day started with another visit to Lycée Edouard Herriot. We played badminton with French students, which was fun and helped us communicate, even though we had a bit of a language barrier. Then we had a quiz about Lyo,n, and I got 14 out of 20. I'm way proud of myself and grateful to my team! We also played French board games, in "luding the popular "wolf game, which was exciting to play. For lunch, I had a crêpe with apples, cream, and vanilla; honestly, it was the best food of the entire trip. 10 out of 10!

In the afternoon, we visited the Lugdunum Roman Museum. I learned that the Romans invented underfloor heating, loved decorating with mosaics, and carved messages into stones, which are known as inscriptions. The statues and rocks looked serious, but they told real stories. I was especially impressed with the Roman jewellery and their ability to create such astonishing works of art!

Dinner was special, I tried French snails for the first time and loved them! I also had a burger with salad and chips, a delicious end to a fantastic day.
Day 6 – Packing Up and One Last Adventure

On our last morning, we packed our bags carefully, making sure we didn't forget anything. But the trip wasn't over yet! We headed to the Musée des Confluences again to explore more exhibitions.

We saw the "he "Dream and Sleep" section, where we learned about different parts of sleep, what happens in your brain while you are sleeping and how your experiences affect your dreams - that was extremely interesting! In the "Origins" exhibit, we saw fossils and stories about the beginning o" the Earth. In the "Amazon and Species" section, we discovered a wide range of animals and their habitats. In my opinion, one of the most amazing things was a rock that was older than the sun, and I even got to touch it! I was fascinated by various facts about satellites, rocks, and telescopes.

After visiting the museum, we walked through the streets of Lyon one last time, taking in the view and atmosphere. We had our final meal at a pizza restaurant called Zapilicious — and it lived up to the name! The pizza was truly zapilicious.

Final Conclusion – My opinion of Lyon

My trip to Lyon was unforgettable. I discovered beautiful architecture, fascinating museums, tasty food, and an entirely new culture. I improved my French listening and English speaking skills, and I made unforgettable memories with my friends and new people,  like Amaline.

I think I learned how to be more open, curious, and confident, whether it was trying snails, understanding silk machines, or trying to talk a little bit in French. My favourite moments were visiting the Cinema Museum, tasting the crêpe, taking the boat ride, and enjoying the zappilicious pizza. Lyon gave me a piece of history, a new perspective, and a lot of inspiration.

I hope I can return someday, but even if I don't, Lyon will stay in my heart forever. I love its incredible history,  culture and architecture!

Thank you to Diana Zavadska, Year 10, for writing such a lovely and detailed summary of the trip!