Maison des Canuts

Overview

The Maison des Canuts is a working museum dedicated to Lyon's silk-weaving heritage, located in the heart of the Croix-Rousse district. Live demonstrations on functioning 19th-century Jacquard looms bring the craft and its extraordinary history vividly to life.

Highlights

• Live Weaving: Skilled weavers demonstrate on original Jacquard looms, explaining the revolutionary punch-card programming system that prefigured computer science.
• Silk Samples: Touching and comparing different silk weaves — from gossamer voile to heavy brocade — provides a tactile understanding of the craft.
• Canuts' Story: The exhibition tells the dramatic social history of the silk workers, including the revolutionary uprisings of 1831 and 1834.

History

Lyon's silk industry began in the 15th century under Louis XI and peaked in the 18th–19th centuries, when the city produced silk for courts across Europe. The Jacquard loom, invented by Lyon native Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1804, automated pattern weaving using punch cards — a concept that directly inspired Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine.

Visitor Tips

• Guided Tours: The guided tour with loom demonstration is highly recommended — weavers are passionate and knowledgeable.
• Boutique: The shop sells locally woven silk scarves, ties, and fabric at artisan prices.
• Duration: 45–60 minutes.