L’Arbresle: The history of silk velvet, church art and walking routes

When planning your trip to L’Arbresle, it helps to consider getting there and sightseeing separately. For the journey, TER services and junction 36 of the A 89 are useful reference points. Once there, you can explore everything from the history of silk velvet weaving to church art and walking routes. You can first decide whether to focus on local history, a particular cultural theme or an independent walking tour.

Getting there by train and road

L’Arbresle is served by TER line 6 towards Roanne and Lyon-Part-Dieu. There is also TER line 22, known as the “Tram-Train”, towards Lyon Saint-Paul. The lines run in different directions, so check the current timetable and the service that best suits your starting point before travelling. L’Arbresle has a direct connection to the A 89 motorway (Bordeaux–Lyon) via junction 36.

Local history and textile crafts

In the 19th century, L’Arbresle developed from a village still largely shaped by agriculture into a small industrial town specialising in silk velvet weaving. This transformation gives local history a distinct textile focus. The Espace Découverte du Pays de L’Arbresle features a permanent interpretive heritage trail about the Pays de L’Arbresle, as well as temporary exhibitions. It is also home to the Atelier-musée du tissage, with weaving equipment, eyewitness accounts and films. Here, textile history is presented in two ways: as a transformation of the town and as a hands-on craft theme at the Atelier-musée.

Art and geology trails

The La Croisée des Chemins trail by Les Murmures du Temps is in the historic centre of L’Arbresle. It starts in Eveux or L’Arbresle, is 3 km long and includes two works of art. The Parcours géologique de L’Arbresle, by contrast, is a 4 km circular route with 22 points of interest described along the way. A free leaflet allows you to explore it independently; the route is open every day throughout the year and is always free of charge. Your choice therefore also depends on what you want to focus on: artworks along a 3 km route or geological points of interest on a 4 km circular walk that you can explore independently using the leaflet.

Church and guided tours

The parish church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste was built in the 15th century and extended in the 19th century. A guided tour explores the building’s architecture and history, its furnishings and statues, and the iconography of its 15th- and 19th-century stained-glass windows. One specific example is the figurative window Baie 1, which depicts Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Bartholomew. The “L’Arbresle médiévale et Renaissance” tour lasts two hours and is available on request.

Discover more destinations: Thurins, Feyzin, Chaponnay, Francheville, Vaugneray, Saint-Martin-en-Haut, Amplepuis, Saint-Bonnet-Le-Troncy

For the regional travel overview: Rhône.