Let Michiel Janzen guide you through Lyon and discover the story behind the courage and determination of the French Resistance during the Second World War.
Lyon is the city where the French Resistance organised itself. During the Battlefield Tour Lyon, Michiel takes you by bike to well-known and hidden historic locations that bring the story of the French Resistance and the Second World War to life.
Outside France, the story of the French Resistance is still relatively little known. Lyon, often described as the capital of the Resistance, played a crucial role in the liberation of France. Michiel, who lives in Lyon, takes you on an impressive journey through the city that became an epicentre of secret Resistance activity.
Lyon is home to numerous memorial plaques and monuments that tell the story of the Resistance. This is where first contacts were made and plans for acts of sabotage were prepared. Explore the city and discover the places that played an important role in the struggle against the Nazis.
Along the way, you will learn more about legendary Resistance figures such as Jean Moulin, a symbol of the courage and sacrifice of the French Resistance. You will also hear the story of Raymond and Lucie Aubrac, the famous Resistance couple who were active in Lyon.
During the tour, you will see the former headquarters of Klaus Barbie, the notorious Nazi and Gestapo officer. Today, the building is used as a hotel.
At the end of the tour, you can visit the Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation, a museum dedicated to the history of the French Resistance and the deportations to concentration camps. The museum offers powerful insight into the struggle of the French population under Nazi occupation.
In May 1940, German forces occupied the city for three weeks. They later withdrew behind the demarcation line, while continuing to exert strong influence over the Vichy regime under Marshal Pétain.
The situation changed in November 1942, when the Allies landed on the coast of North Africa during Operation Torch. In response, the Germans decided to occupy all of France, including Lyon. This marked the beginning of a difficult period for the French population.
The Germans — and especially the Gestapo — intensified their fight against the French Resistance. Many young men and women were arrested and never returned.
One month after the Allied landings in Normandy, open fighting broke out between the German army and the French Resistance.
On 26 May 1944, Lyon was bombed by the US Air Force. On 1 September, the retreating Germans blew up all but one of the bridges over the Rhône. The next day, the first American vehicles entered Lyon.
Join a guided tour through Lyon and discover the story behind the courage of the French Resistance in the Second World War
Outside France, the story of the French Resistance during the Second World War is still relatively little known. Michiel, who lives in Lyon, takes you through the capital of the French Resistance and its many memorial plaques and monuments.
Lyon is approximately 800 km from the Netherlands. View the route and travel time below.