/ The traboules
of Lyon

Etymologically, the word traboule comes from the Latin "transambulare", meaning "to cross". Traboules, which are very common in Lyon today, are small passageways through the courtyards of buildings that allow you to get from one street to another, similar to small tunnels in a piece of Gruyère cheese.

One of Lyon's distinctive architectural features, the 500 traboules (most of which are either closed or difficult to see) are concentrated in the north of the city in the Vieux Lyon, Croix Rousse and Presqu'île districts. They mainly served as links between the Saône and the heights of Lyon, providing communication routes between canuts and merchants.
A veritable labyrinth, it was used by Lyon's resistance fighters during the Second World War.
With their distinctive appearance, they're great fun to discover, and you'll be charmed by the mystery and uniqueness of these places!