The title of our project is “Environmental Art,” and our partner school is La Xavière from Lyon.
We continued our project with the group that had already become familiar during their stay in Tornio. The students stayed with the families of their French friends, getting to experience ordinary French daily life and compare the cultures of different countries. Some of the Finnish students also know the basics of French, giving them an opportunity to use those language skills as well.
We went on excursions to various districts of Lyon. Founded in 43 BC, Lyon offers over two thousand years of history. Among other sites, we visited the Fourvière hill and the Bellecour area. Using public transportation was a new experience for the students. Metros, trains, and trams quickly became familiar while commuting to school and making trips. We were accompanied by one participant with mobility restrictions, who moved partly by wheelchair and partly with walking poles. The city did not prove to be fully accessible.
One day, we headed to Lyon’s historic silk district, La Croix-Rousse, located on a hill of the same name in the northern part of the city. It is particularly known for its silk weavers, called Canuts. Their history is still visible in the area through secret passages known as traboules and traditional workshops, whose high windows were designed to accommodate silk looms. We got to explore these secret traboules, which pass through courtyards and residential buildings to connect streets. These passages are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Exploring this district enriched our students’ awareness of old European culture and art, while offering a glimpse into what it was like to be a European citizen as far back as Roman times.
Together with the students, we also visited a sustainable neighborhood called La Confluence in Lyon’s 2nd arrondissement. We learned that over the past 15 years, energy-efficient buildings for both housing and business have been constructed in La Confluence. The design and construction of these buildings have focused especially on eco-friendliness and low carbon emissions. Residents are able to track their consumption in real time using tablets. La Confluence has also emphasized eco-friendly mobility by offering several options for public transit, including trams, buses, shuttle buses, and city bikes. Additionally, multiple electric car-sharing services operate in the area.
At the Musée des Confluences, we first explored how different cultures perceive the creation of the world, followed by a scientific explanation. We were shown fossils and dinosaur remains from different eras. We were also told that the era of the dinosaurs ended with an asteroid impact, and as a reminder of extraterrestrial phenomena, a meteorite was on display. At the museum, we also visited a room where we ourselves felt as if we were on a theater stage. The concept was to show that we live our lives on a stage: we organize our actions, change our roles according to the situation, and create new things. Amidst all this, we must remember the environment and the finite nature of natural resources. In La Confluence, the students learned a great deal about natural sciences, cultures, and environmental issues.
We traveled to Lyon from Paris and back by train. On the return journey, we spent a day in Paris, exploring its famous sights and history.
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