Visit Croix-Rousse Area and its Traboules in Lyon

See the Croix-Rousse Hillside in the background

We can reach the Croix-Rousse hill situated to the east by going through the unusual covered passageways called « traboules» before coming up to the main plateau.
The working hill was the location of the Canuts, the 19th silk workers, who needed high ceilings to fit with their mechanical looms invented by Jacquard. Very high buildings and houses were built in narrow streets on the very steep slopes of the Croix-Rousse. The « Traboules » were used as passageways to go from the north to the south of the city. Many tourists like visiting the traboules of Lyon [ajouter].
Napoleon imposed the use of Lyonnais silk on all the courts of Europe, so that the silk industry boomed and contributed to the industrial expansion of Lyon. But, the tensions between the Canuts and the merchants who sold the silk led to the first worker demonstrations in 1831 and 1834 and put an end to the silk industry.
Today, the area is becoming a rich residential part of Lyon city and most of the old workshops have been transformed into very expensive lofts and flats.