Souvenirs of your visit to Lyon

Are you looking for a typical souvenir from Lyon to give to your loved ones? Then you’ll be spoilt for choice in a city famous for its gourmet specialities and unrivalled craftsmanship! Here’s a selection of the best made-in-Lyon souvenirs to take home with you.

Edible souvenirs from Lyon

As you may have noticed, Lyon likes its food! From morning to night, from the traditional mâchon breakfast, served with wine and charcuterie, to dinner, not forgetting lunch, afternoon tea and aperitif, the locals always find a good excuse to indulge in the many local culinary specialities. While you may not want to try stuffing a tablier de sapeur or salade Lyonnaise into your suitcase, other specialities of Lyonnaise cuisine are much more travel-friendly:

• Pralines: although pralines don’t actually come from Lyon (they originate from Roanne), over the years they have become a quintessential ingredient of Lyon’s confectionery offering. Head to a Sève pastry shop for a bag of red pralines, or visit a Pralus boutique for a praluline, a brioche with pralines named after its creator Auguste Pralus.
• The Coussin de Lyon : in 1960, chocolatier Voisin came up with the idea for this iconic sweet made with almond paste, chocolate and curaçao. The “cushion of Lyon” pays tribute to the city’s history: it is inspired by the silk cushion on which municipal magistrates are said to have placed a candle and a gold escutcheon on Fourvière hill to beseech the Virgin Mary to end the plague of 1643. You can find them in one of the many Chocolats Voisin shops dotted around town.
• Rosette de Lyon: naturally, we can’t talk about gourmet gifts from Lyon without mentioning charcuterie. You will find rosette, saucisson de Lyon and Jésus de Lyon (the three are often confused, yet each has its own individual character) in all good charcuterie stores, such as Maison Duculty or Bobosse.

Visit the Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, the temple of Lyonnaise gastronomy where you’re sure to find a suitable treat to delight your loved ones at home. You could also do a tour of the city’s many independent bookstores to find a recipe book of Lyonnaise cuisine: chefs like Sonia Ezgulian, Joseph Viola and Olivier Canal love to share their knowledge to help you cook good food like a true Lyonnais.

Liquid delights to bring back from Lyon

“Lyon is a city watered by three great rivers: the Rhône, the Saône and the Beaujolais.” We like to attribute this quote to Léon Daudet. Even though the Beaujolais is a “river” of wine and is not technically part of Lyon, the city has a special connection with the region, its splendid golden landscapes and its wines (of which there are many varieties besides the much-hyped Beaujolais Nouveau!).

The city’s many wine merchants will guide you towards the right choice among their tempting selection of wines from the Rhône Valley, AOC Coteaux du Lyonnais, the legendary Côte-Rôtie and many other local treasures. 

Roll out the barrel! Breweries and microbreweries abound in the Lyon metropolis, from the ubiquitous Ninkasi bars to the iconic Brasserie Georges. What’s more, if you happen to be around at the right time, the Lyon Beer Festival is a great opportunity for beer lovers to taste (and bring home) a choice selection of delicious craft beers*.

There are also plenty of non-alcoholic beverages to choose from, including praline syrup and artisanal locally roasted coffee.

* Excessive alcohol consumption is dangerous for the health: drink in moderation.

Bring back a silky souvenir from Lyon

The history of silk has shaped the city of Lyon: during your stay, you may have visited Croix-Rousse, the “working hill” where the silk workers known as canuts weaved silk on those imposing Jacquard looms? Silk is still important today in Lyon, as the city’s prestigious silk manufacturers vie with each other to perpetuate this noble tradition.

If you have the opportunity, don’t hesitate to attend the Silk in Lyon festival. Silk is the common thread running through this biennial autumn event bringing together all the best creators.

The “Fabriqué à Lyon” label - guaranteed local production

Want to bring back a genuinely authentic souvenir of Lyon? To help you make the right choice and highlight the skills of its talented craftspeople, the City of Lyon has created a label named Fabriqué à Lyon et ses alentours to hallmark items made in Lyon and the surrounding area. The label guarantees that the products were designed, manufactured or processed in the Lyon area.

In addition to local production, the label is subject to other selection criteria regarding manufacture, the origin of raw materials, craftsmanship and sustainability (CSR).

Whether you appreciate good food, craftsmanship or both, you will leave Lyon with a head full of memories, plus maybe even a few in your luggage!