Maison des Canuts

The Maison des Canuts is the silk-weaving museum on the Croix-Rousse hill and it is better than it sounds. The canuts were the silk weavers who dominated this neighbourhood from the 16th to the 19th century, and the museum preserves working Jacquard looms that demonstrate how the technology worked. Joseph-Marie Jacquard invented his programmable loom in Lyon in 1804: the punch card system he used to control the pattern was later adapted by Babbage for the Analytical Engine and then by IBM for computing. The museum explains this connection without overplaying it. The shop sells silk scarves woven in Lyon (EUR 30-60) which are the most useful souvenir in the city. Guided tours run at set times (check the schedule at the door, joining a tour is better than self-guiding). EUR 7 entry. Allow 45 minutes.