I’m Matt. American, Lyon-Based, and I’ve Been Here Since 2016.
I know this city the way a resident knows it. That’s what I want to show you.
How I Ended Up Here
I came to France on a study abroad semester during college. I was doing a nutrition and French double degree at Western Michigan University and figured a semester in France would be good for my resume.
The moment I arrived, everything clicked. I loved waking up in a foreign country every day. The culture, the food, the way people lived. It felt right in a way Michigan never had. When I went back to the U.S. I had reverse culture shock within a week.
So I finished my degrees, transferred my nutrition credits to Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, and moved to Lyon in 2016. I’ve been here ever since.
Lyon had everything I was looking for. Big enough to feel full of life, small enough to walk everywhere. Not overwhelming like Paris. Incredible food, beautiful architecture, and a richness to daily life that makes every day feel interesting. And the farmers markets. I fell in love with the farmers markets immediately. I’ve been going every week since I moved here.
Lyon felt like home before I even lived here. It still does.
How Tours Became a Thing
I started doing tours by accident.
Friends and family would visit and I’d show them around. Every time, they told me I should do this professionally. Eventually I agreed.
I like being out in the city with people who are excited to be here. I know the main attractions, but I’ve also lived here long enough to know everything in between. The spots you walk right past unless someone points them out. That’s what I want to show people.
What I love about it is that no two tours are the same. Some people want to go deep on the history. Some people just want to walk and talk. Some people show up thinking they want one thing and end up somewhere completely different. That’s fine with me. That’s usually the best version of the day.
The Lyon Most Visitors Never See
Lyon has a public face and a private one. The public face is beautiful. The private one is better.
The traboules are the best example. They’re hidden passageways that run through the city’s buildings, connecting streets through courtyards and staircases. They were built by silk weavers in the 19th century and used by the French Resistance in World War II. Most visitors walk right past the entrances without knowing they exist.
That’s the Lyon I want to show you. Not just the landmarks you already know about, but the city underneath the city.
Why I’m the Right Guide
10 Years in Lyon
I’m not a tourist who decided to give tours. I’ve been here since 2016, built a life here, and know the city the way a resident knows it, not the way a visitor does.
Fluent in French
I earned a French degree and completed my nutrition studies in French at Lyon 1. I handle the vendors, the menus, and the moments where the language barrier would otherwise slow you down.
American Who Gets It
I know what’s confusing about France when you’re coming from the States. I can explain it, translate it, and make sure you actually enjoy it instead of feeling lost in it.
A Few Things About Me
Markets Every Week
Tuesday and Saturday, without fail. I’ve been going long enough that I know the vendors and have gotten pretty good at picking the best produce. The market is genuinely one of my favorite parts of the week.
Competitive Gymnast
I train 3 to 4 times a week and compete nationally with the French Gymnastics Federation. I was a national championship gymnast in the U.S. too. Gymnastics has been part of my life for over 25 years.
Favorite Spot in Lyon
Place des Jacobins. I also love Stochholm Kafe and all the little boutiques around the city. My kitchen is embarrassingly well-stocked thanks to Lyon’s cooking supply stores.
Want to See Lyon Together?
Get in touch and tell me what you’re interested in. We’ll figure out the rest from there.
Email Matt