On August 29, 2026, the harvesters moved to the bottom of the Cerisaie park for the Croix-Rousse harvest, on the Canuts hill in Lyon. On the rows of the Clos des Canuts, the urban vines offered themselves to the residents’ pruning shears.
For this 38th edition of the Republic of Canuts, the harvest took place fifteen days in advance, due to the heatwave, for around 300 bottles in the end. But most of this urban harvest takes place as much in conversations as in the vats.
Urban vineyard of Croix-Rousse at Cerisaie park
At the bottom of the Cerisaie park, the Clos des Canuts lines up nearly 300 feet of Gamay on the slope, in the heart of Lyon 4th. In the middle of the buildings, this plot reminds us that Croix-Rousse was also a wine-growing hill.
Each foot yields on average one bottle; in total, around 300 bottles leave the cloister each year. This Gamay wine, more symbolic than commercial, is mainly used during convivial moments between neighbors and members of the Republic of Canuts.
Republic of Canuts, a micro-state to make a village
Around this vine was invented the Republic of Canuts, a joyful micro-republic with its president Gérard Truchet, at the helm for more than three decades, its anthem and its ministers. Minister of Ampelography, the former Coteaux du Lyonnais winemaker Pierre Descotes follows the vines closely.
The harvest day begins with the inductions: red apron, fanfare and cord for the new ones, who become symbolic owners of a vine for three years and receive a bottle from the previous harvest. For Fabrice Centi, a resident of the neighborhood: , he confides to France 3 Rhône Alpes. Pierre Descotes also summarizes his commitment: .
Croix-Rousse harvest, fanfare, gones and fenottes
Behind the fanfare leading the march towards the vineyard, ministers, grape pickers and neighbors advance alongside the district mayor Rémi Zinck, pruning shears in hand. The gones and fenottes run between the ranks, under the red berets and straw hats.
As the harvest progresses, almost the entire neighborhood ends up crossing paths; elders, families and newcomers exchange news and memories. In this small republic, wine serves above all as a pretext to maintain, year after year, a close bond in the heart of the city.
When do the Croix-Rousse harvest take place?
They take place every year at the end of August at Cerisaie Park.
How many bottles does the Republic of Canuts produce?
The Clos des Canuts urban vineyard has around 300 Gamay vines and produces nearly 300 bottles per year.
How do you become a member of the Republic of Canuts?
New citizens are inducted during the harvest and become symbolic owners of a vine for three years.
