Old Lyon, Lyon

The Old Lyon (Vieux Lyon) is the largest Renaissance district located in the 5th borough of the city of Lyon. It covers a vast area of 424 hectares, nestled at the base of the Fourvière hill, making it one of the most extensive Renaissance neighborhoods in Europe. This historic district can be divided into three distinct sections: Saint Jean, Saint Paul, and Saint Georges.

The Saint Jean quarter held significant political and religious importance during the Middle Ages. Notably, the Cathedral of Saint Jean, a title still held by the archbishop of Lyon, serves as a prime example of Gothic architecture.

Moving on to the Saint-Paul section, during the 15th and 16th centuries, it became the preferred residence for affluent Italian banker-merchants. They built lavish urban residences known as "hôtels particuliers" here. Two remarkable examples are the Hôtel Bullioud and the Hôtel de Gadagne. The latter now houses the Lyon Historical Museum and the International Puppet Museum. The Saint Paul church, with its Romanesque lantern tower and impressive spire, marks the northern boundary of this section.

Lastly, the Saint Georges section became a hub for silk weavers in the 16th century, although they eventually moved to the Croix Rousse hill in the 19th century. In 1844, architect Pierre Bossan reconstructed Saint George's Church along the banks of the Saône River, adopting a neo-Gothic architectural style.

During the Middle Ages, when only a few parallel streets connected the hill and the Saône River, the first "traboules" were constructed. The term "traboules" is derived from the Latin "trans-ambulare," meaning "to pass through." These traboules are essentially corridors that cut through buildings and their courtyards, providing a direct connection between one street and another. When exploring these hidden passages, visitors can marvel at the architectural wonders of galleries and spiral staircases, which are as unexpected as they are unique.