Traboule de la Cour des Voraces

The traboule of the Cour des Voraces

The Lyon audio-guided tour has you take the traboule of the Cour des Voraces, one of the most impressive of the Croix-Rousse, a secret passage typical of the city.

The secret passages of Lyon

A traboule is a passage that allows one to discreetly connect one street to another, through the buildings. Formerly used to quickly transport fabrics sheltered from the rain, then, during the Second World War, to hide the members of the Resistance, the traboules present a singular architecture: spiral staircases, turrets, Italian-style galleries and inner courtyards, the latter called miraboules. The Cour des Voraces is one of the most spectacular of the Croix-Rousse and has served as a setting for several films. Lyon has more than one hundred and sixty traboules in the Croix-Rousse and about two hundred in the Vieux-Lyon; many of them are closed to preserve the tranquillity of the inhabitants, but others remain open to the public.

What there is to see

The traboule of the Cour des Voraces impresses with its monumental staircases and its singular architecture, emblematic of the hidden heritage of Lyon. To cross it is to discover a little-known part of the city, between the history of silk and the memory of the Resistance. It is one of the most famous and most spectacular traboules of the Croix-Rousse.

Practical information

The traboule of the Cour des Voraces is in the Croix-Rousse district, in Lyon. It is open to the public; as it is an inhabited passage, the visit is made in calm and respect, and includes stairs.

What is a traboule?

A secret passage connecting one street to another through the buildings, typical of Lyon, formerly used to transport fabrics.

How many traboules does Lyon have?

More than one hundred and sixty in the Croix-Rousse and about two hundred in the Vieux-Lyon; some remain open to the public.