Traboules of Lyon

The word traboule comes from the Latin transambulare, meaning “to pass through”. Originally designed in the 4th century as a way of accessing fresh water from the river, these passageways became integral during Lyon's silk trade boom in the Renaissance.

In WWII, the traboules were used by resistance fighters for their secret meetings, which prevented the Nazis from occupying all of Lyon.

According to the french dictionary "Le petit Robert", a Traboule is a regional word from Lyon to name a narrow path through a block of house. A more appealing way to put it would be to define it as a kind of secret passage through a private building.

Nowadays, traboules are tourist attractions, and several are free and open to the public. Most traboules are on private property, serving as entrances to local apartments. Many, if not most, of the underground passages have been blocked off and are currently used as storage areas.