3-Hour Private Lyon Art Galleries Tour with Studio Visit and Champagne

3 Hours Place Bellecour to Rue Auguste Comte Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Meet the artistic directors of three contemporary galleries and hear the stories behind the works on view
  • 02 Stroll the lanes of the Ainay Abbey district with Marie-Claire and discover the small stories of its streets and buildings
  • 03 Breathe in rare French fragrances at Odorem, where scent meets art photography and objects of curiosity
  • 04 Sip a very good Champagne in the studio of Mathieu Iquel as he shares his technique and latest canvases
  • 05 See a studio wall that evolves with each finished painting, making every visit unique

Ainay is one of Lyon's oldest quarters, and its galleries and studios stay closed to most visitors. On this private 3-hour experience for 3 to 6 guests, Marie-Claire, a Lyon insider with a deep network in the local art world, opens those doors for you. Meet the people who run three contemporary galleries, hear how the works came to be, explore Odorem's world of rare French fragrances and art photography, and finish with a glass of very good Champagne in the working studio of painter Mathieu Iquel. Exhibitions rotate and the studio wall changes with every new canvas, so no two visits are the same.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Hours
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access No
City Lyon
Languages English, French

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Private Art Walk Through Ainay with Galleries, Odorem and Champagne

Enjoy an intimate 3-hour private journey through the historic Ainay Abbey district, one of Lyon's oldest and most storied neighborhoods, guided by Marie-Claire, a passionate local insider who weaves together the histories of the quartier and opens doors that remain closed to most visitors.

She leads you through three carefully selected contemporary galleries, where you meet the artistic directors in person, hear the stories behind the works, and discover current exhibitions that exist outside any tourist circuit.

Between stops, Marie-Claire shares the small stories of the streets, the buildings, and the passionate individuals who have made this quietly extraordinary corner of Lyon a living hub of art.

The experience continues at Odorem, a Lyon perfume house devoted to rare French fragrances, art photography, and objects of curiosity. Here, scent and image converge into a single sensory voyage, a timeless encounter with the rare and the beautiful, guided by the people who created it.

The afternoon closes in the studio of Mathieu Iquel, a celebrated Lyonnais painter whose canvases explore the full spectrum of human experience woven into a single emotional reality. Over a glass of Champagne, Mathieu walks you through his latest works, his technique, his choices, and his passion. The hanging evolves with each new finished canvas, so each visit is unique.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Place Bellecour to Rue Auguste Comte 1 city · 3 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Private guided tour of the Ainay Abbey district, led by Marie-Claire (English-speaking), for a private group of 3 to 6 guests

  • Access to three contemporary galleries, with entrance included

  • Meetings with the artistic directors of each gallery

  • Visit to Odorem, a Lyon perfume house

  • Visit to the studio of painter Mathieu Iquel, with time to talk with the artist about his work

  • One glass of very good Champagne per guest in the painter's studio

  • No transport needed: the tour is on foot, at an easy walking pace

What to bring

  • Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Know before you go

  • Meeting point
    In front of the Royal Hôtel, 20 Place Bellecour, Lyon. Marie-Claire will be waiting for you there.

  • Accommodation
    Not applicable. This is a half-day walking tour, and no accommodation is included.

  • Languages
    English and French.

  • Know before you go

    • Marie-Claire stays with you from start to finish and is available for anything you need along the way.

    • The artistic directors and the artist welcome you in person at each venue.

    • Easy urban walking at a relaxed pace.

    • Seating is available at every site, so you can sit down whenever you like.

    • If a gallery or studio is unavailable on your date, Marie-Claire will arrange a comparable alternative nearby.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
20 Place Bellecour, in front of the Royal Hôtel
Tour start
Place Bellecour, Lyon 2
Tour end
Rue Auguste Comte, Lyon 2
End of the journey

Your 3 hours run from Place Bellecour to Rue Auguste Comte.

Watch the tourHQ film Watch the film

Create your own adventure

Can't find the perfect tour? Tailor your dream trip.

  • Tell us your destination, dates and group size.
  • Our travel experts and local guides design a tailored itinerary, just for you.
  • Enjoy your trip with peace of mind, knowing everything is taken care of.
Plan my holiday

Say goodbye to travel stress.

Starting from

EUR 540 /group
Book This Tour

When

Travellers

Total