Traboules, Lyon

Traboules, Lyon

The traboules are a unique architectural feature of Lyon's historical buildings, largely influenced by Italy and especially Florence.

The traboules are a unique architectural feature of Lyon's historical buildings, largely influenced by Italy and especially Florence. They are passageways which link two streets through a building, and usually a courtyard. They were used by silk manufacturers and craftsmen to transport their textiles, clothes and wares in inclement weather. Explore the Renaissance district of Vieux Lyon and the silk district of Croix-Rousse, which are part of Lyon's UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see these traboules. Some of them are officially open to the public. They link the following addresses:- 54 rue St Jean 27 rue du Boeuf (the longest in Lyon)- 27 rue St Jean 6 rue des Trois Maries- 2 place du Gouvernement quai Romain Rolland.To open the doors, just press the service button next to the door code keyboard. If you are unable to enter from one side, try the opposite entrance. In the morning, many other doors are open for service (mail, garbage collection), so more traboules are accessible. There are traboules in almost all buildings between Quai Romain Rolland and Rue St Jean/ Rue des Trois Maries, and others between Rue St Jean and Rue du Boeuf. The most famous of all is the Traboule de la cour des Voraces (Traboule of the Voracious Court) in the Croix-Rousse quarter that is one of the landmarks of the Canut Revolts and also the oldest reinforced concrete stairwell in Lyon.