La Tour Rose Traboule (The Pink Tower Passageway), Lyon

In the heart of Lyon’s Saint-Jean district stands a building with two names and plenty of personality: the House of the Sieve - or, more memorably, The Pink Tower. Built in the 16th century and attributed to the Italian architect Sebastiano Serlio of Bologna, it carries the elegance of the Renaissance with quiet confidence. The courtyard was refreshed in the 17th century, but the spirit of the place remains unmistakably Renaissance.

As for the curious name “House of the Sieve,” no one can say for certain. One popular theory links it to Martin de Troyes, a 16th-century tax collector whose coat of arms may have featured a sieve - perhaps a subtle reminder that taxes, like flour, must pass through fine filters.

From the street, you might walk past without suspecting anything dramatic. The façade is reserved, almost discreet. But step through the gate, and the building changes character completely. Suddenly, rising before you, is a monumental circular tower washed in soft pink plaster - a bold architectural statement hidden in plain sight.

Inside that tower curls a grand spiral staircase-belvedere, climbing upward in elegant curves. Semicircular bay windows open onto terraces and gardens that unfold across several levels, while a historic well stands quietly at the courtyard’s edge, as if keeping watch over centuries of stories.

The Pink Tower has also hosted its share of distinguished guests. In 1600, King Henri IV of France stayed here briefly during his marriage celebrations with Marie de Medici. Imagine the courtyard filled with royal footsteps and whispered courtly conversations. Its significance was officially recognized in 1937, when it was listed as a historic monument. Still, like many grand old residences, it experienced periods of neglect before careful restoration efforts revived its former glory.

Today, known as the tallest building in the Saint-Jean area, the Pink Tower remains one of Old Lyon’s most captivating sights. It stands not just as an architectural curiosity, but as a symbol of the neighborhood’s hidden wonders - especially the famous traboules that weave through the district. So, whenever you wander these medieval streets, don’t be fooled by modest façades. Sometimes the real spectacle is waiting just behind the door.