Académie
Intimate heritage boutique — scholarly and atmospheric, not flashy. Think independent French intellectual meets medieval revival. The design theme honours the grandes institutions of French knowledge without being stuffy about it.
Book a Lumière Suite if budget allows — the full-width street-facing windows and restored 15th-century ceiling frescoes are worth the upgrade
Why It Matters
One of the most genuinely historic hotels in Lyon: a functioning inn since the 1400s, with 15th-century frescoed ceilings still visible in the Lumière Suites. Listed courtyard. Michelin Guide selected and Clef Verte (Green Key) certified since January 2025. Only 12 rooms, so it feels like staying in someone's private Renaissance palazzo.
A 15th-century Renaissance building in Vieux Lyon that has been welcoming travellers since it was built around 1406. Fully renovated in 2023, the Académie has just 12 rooms and suites spread across themed floors — each dedicated to a different French Academy (Académie Française, Beaux-Arts, Sciences, Belles-Lettres). The rooms are small by modern standards, but the bones are extraordinary: French beamed ceilings with actual 15th-century paintings restored by Atelier Royal, original parquet floors, a listed inner courtyard, and carved stone coats of arms. No restaurant on site, but the adjacent Barãgones cocktail bar handles drinks and tapas, and Vieux Lyon's restaurant scene is right outside the door.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Classic Room
From EUR149 / nightThe entry-level rooms sit in the heart of the building and put you squarely inside the medieval world — parquet floors, French beamed ceilings, and a hushed atmosphere. These are genuinely small at 12 sqm, so expect a snug but charming space rather than a sprawling retreat. Views are over the inner courtyard.
Double · 12 sqm
Classic Room Ground Floor (Accessible)
From EUR149 / nightThe ground-floor accessible room has a French window as its main opening and is accessed via the courtyard. Fully adapted for guests with reduced mobility. Same historic character as the Classic rooms.
Double · 12 sqmLumière Suite
From EUR199 / nightThe standout rooms in the hotel. At 35 sqm, these suites run the full width of the Rue Lainerie facade, with large windows flooding the space with natural light and views over the cobblestones below. Named after Auguste Lumière — fitting for Lyon, the birthplace of cinema. Here's the thing: look up. The French ceilings retain actual 15th-century paintings discovered during archaeological excavation and fully restored by Atelier Royal. Sleeps up to 4.
Double · 35 sqmThe Apartment
From EUR250 / nightThe largest option at 45 sqm, combining a Lumière Suite and a Classic Room into a single interconnected apartment with two bedrooms and two independent bathrooms. Perfect for families travelling with older kids or friends sharing. Up to 6 guests. The practical choice when you need privacy across a party.
Multiple · 45 sqm
Traboule Lyonnaise Suite
From EUR199 / nightNamed after Lyon's famous secret passageways, these suites run to 32 sqm and offer two independent living areas with two separate bathrooms. Some have French ceilings. Good for families or couples who want the extra breathing room. Parquet floors throughout.
Double · 32 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The adjacent Barãgones cocktail bar can be fully privatised for group events, cocktail parties, or corporate functions.
Cocktail workshops available at the adjacent Barãgones bar. Focused on Latin-American and Caribbean spirits, particularly rums. Must be booked in advance.
The hotel offers a discovery package that includes Lyon City Cards, which give access to museums, the hop-on hop-off bus, and public transport across the city.
The hotel's location puts you at the centre of Lyon's UNESCO World Heritage old town. Traboules, Renaissance courtyards, Saint-Jean Cathedral, and the Fourvière funicular are all within walking distance.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Meetings and seminars are hosted via the Collège Hôtel directly opposite, which has multiple rooms with varying capacities.
Complimentary wireless internet throughout the property at 100+ Mbps — good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices.
Hotel gift boxes available for purchase — either a one-night stay or a discovery package including breakfast and Lyon City Cards.
Pets allowed with a supplement of €15 per stay. Bowls provided.
All rooms are air-conditioned. Note: minimum temperature is capped at 23°C as part of the hotel's Clef Verte eco policy.
Round-the-clock service, though staffed via Collège Hôtel (across the street at 5 Place Saint Paul) for late-night arrivals after 23:00.
The hotel is 'gourde friendly' — guests and passers-by can stop in to refill water bottles with fresh drinking water at no charge.
Electric vehicle charging available on-site.
The hotel holds the Accueil Vélo label — secure bike parking and a repair kit available for cycling travellers.
Private parking available on-site at €25 per day. Reservation required in advance as spaces are limited.
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