From the Latin "trans ambulare", these are curious and often gorgeous covered passages that go all through old Lyon and the croix-rousse district. Lyon was (and is) a silkweaving town, and weavers used these passages to move their goods without getting them rained on.

Without the addresses in the links below, you'd never know they were there, and neither did the gestapo...

Sniffing out the traboules is a favourite Sunday activity of locals too! Just mind the signs asking for quiet, these are often private passages.

www.magazine.fr/lyon-cite/LOISIRS/GUIDE/index.html

www.lyon.fr/vdl/sections/fr/urbanisme/cours_traboules_lyon/a_visiter/

www.lyon.fr/vdl/sections/en/urbanisme/cours_traboules_lyon/?aIndex=1

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The crookedest street in the world? You're all wet! Lombard Street is prettier, but Vermont St., stuck up against the James Lick Freeway in an industrial area, is the real answer.

The area is far from touristic, and couldn't handle an influx of curiosity seekers, so this place doesn't figure in tourist guides, and maps don't even indicate it's not straight. And be warned, you can get stuck here if you're not careful, it's that crooked!

Vermont St. between 20th and 22nd, Potrero District

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