All about the Traboules, Lyon’s Hidden Gems

Article written by Elisa - Travel Writer & Local in France
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The traboules are hidden gems of Lyon, a world apart from the hustle and bustle of the city. In Lyon, traboules are narrow passageways cut through houses and private courtyards.

The word traboule comes from the Latin “trans ambulare,” which means “to walk through.”

Exploring the traboules is one of the best things to do in Lyon. There are around 400 of these small pathways in the city, with 40 of them open to visitors.

About the Traboules of Lyon

The traboules in Lyon are older than you may think; their origin can be traced back to the 4th century! After the fall of the Roman Empire, the aqueducts bringing water to Lyon started to fall, and the city built the first traboules to allow its inhabitants quicker access to the Old Town from the river.

Later in the 19th century, when Lyon became a major center for the silk trade, the traboules allowed the canuts (the name given to the silk traders in Lyon) to easily move their goods from the places of production to the markets located in the city center. Because most of the traboules were covered, they also protected the bolts of precious silk from rain, allowing goods transportation even in inclement weather.

Thanks to their usefulness in the daily life of the people of Lyon, traboules became over the years a characteristic feature of Lyon’s town planning from the Renaissance until the 19th century. Their integration into the city’s urban planning was even planned from the construction of the building.

Because of their secret nature, some of these traboules were the landmarks of the Canut Revolts, the major revolts that occurred between 1831 and 1848. They were among the first well-defined worker uprisings of the period known as the “Industrial Revolution.”

In the 20th century, during the Second World War, the traboules in Lyon were used by the resistance fighting against occupying German forces.

Best Traboules to Visit in Lyon

The traboules are secret passages, often hidden behind magnificent Renaissance doors. Even today, only a true Lyonnais has a good knowledge about Lyon’s traboules, so you can take your traboules exploration as a kind of treasure hunt.

Today, the most beautiful traboules are located in Vieux-Lyon and the Croix-Rousse neighborhoods. Originally, there were many traboules in the Presqu’Ile too, but the major urban planning works carried out in this sector in the 19th century caused the disappearance of the weaving workshops, a large part of the old buildings… and part of the traboules.

The traboules are private passages, usually linked to the courtyard of a residential building. Since 1990, an agreement between the City Council and the residents of properties with traboules allows access to everybody from morning to evening in exchange for maintenance, restoration, and lightning. Most of the traboules open to the public are marked on the exterior façade, and they have informative panels in French and English highlighting their history and architectural features.

If you prefer to visit the traboules alone rather than with a Lyon traboules guided tour, here is the list of the most beautiful traboules Lyon has to offer. There are many traboules, so if you are only spending a weekend in Lyon, it’s better to concentrate your explorations around the traboules of Vieux-Lyon. Remember that the traboules are part of residential areas, so please respect the tranquility of its inhabitants. Enjoy!

TIP: Lyon’s Tourism Office at Place Bellecour has free maps with the traboules open for visitors. In the summer, you can find their staff hanging around Old Lyon, offering these free maps to tourists.

Traboules and Bouchons in Vieux Lyon

If you are exploring the traboules IN Vieux-Lyon, chances are that you are not far from a bouchon Lyonnais. The bouchons are Lyon’s local eateries, usually popular and cheap places offering traditional food. Highly enhanced and promoted by the City Council, the bouchons have become trendy places perfect for a casual lunch or dinner in the Old Town.

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