MARSEILLE & LYON
may 2027
DR KATHLEEN OLIVE
*** Preliminary Itinerary ***
Discover two of France’s most distinctive regional capitals, both emerging as vibrant cultural destinations, and known for their fascinating histories and proud cuisines
OVERVIEW
Get to know the many faces of France on this twin-city tour to the country’s largest regional capitals. Known internationally for their distinctive histories and proudly preserved cultures of food and wine, Lyon and Marseille are emerging as strong cultural destinations in their own right, with much to offer the traveller looking to enjoy France beyond Paris’s crowds.
We begin with four days in Marseille, France’s second largest city, unpacking the city’s origins as a Greek emporium and premier Mediterranean port, exploring its striking coastline by boat and discovering the design icons left in this vibrant city by ‘starchitects’ Le Corbusier, Rudy Ricciotti and Stefano Boeri.
En route to Lyon, the third largest city in France and long considered a ‘second city’ after Paris, we break our journey in Aix-en-Provence. This pleasant hill town is indelibly associated with Paul Cézanne, who was born and raised here and dedicated much time to capturing the grandeur of the surrounding landscape.
Across four nights in elegant Lyon, we discover the Gallo-Roman capital of Gaul, at significant archaeological sites and in one of the country’s best museums of ancient artefacts. In the Renaissance, Lyon emerged as a proto-industrial town, with a focus on luxury and decorative arts, as we explore on guided visits to the Maison des Canuts in the silkworkers’ district and at an early twentieth-century housing project that foreshadows Le Corbusier in Marseille. More recently, it has earned a reputation as the French culinary capital and its art gallery is considered to hold one of the country’s finest collections of Western art.
The tour program is enhanced by the expertise of your leader, Dr Kathleen Olive, and by select fine dining experiences that showcase the varied gastronomies of Lyon and Marseille.
TOUR LEADER
Dr Kathleen Olive is one of Australia’s best-known cultural tour leaders, with over 15 years’ experience leading tours to Western Europe, North America, Australasia and Japan. Kathleen is particularly known for her expertise in Italy, and she holds a PhD in Italian Studies from the University of Sydney. She lived and studied in Italy for a number of years and speaks fluent Italian.
Since 2003, Kathleen has led and designed over 70 cultural tours, and she is well known for her lectures on European history, art and culture at various Sydney institutions.
“Kathleen was a knowledgeable and generous tour leader” – Barbara M, Exploring Medieval Burgundy, May 2025
Highlights
Discover Lyon, one of France’s most delightful cities, and its excellent historic collections of antiquities and art
Understand contemporary France, from Lyon’s outstanding murals to Marseille’s cutting-edge architectural scene
Delight in quintessential flavours, in Lyon’s famed bouchons and in the seafood restaurants of Marseille’s colourful Vieux Port
Uncover new cultural collections, including Lyon’s Musée des Confluences and Marseille’s striking Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MUCEM)
Understand Le Corbusier’s innovation and influence, on an architect-led tour of Marseille’s Unité d’Habitation
Enjoy varied scenery, from the Rhône’s vine-covered hills to the distinctive colours of Provence and a boat tour of the Mediterranean coast
Questions?
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