Mermet Passage, Lyon

The Mermet Passage is one of Lyon’s lesser-known traboules, the network of covered passageways that weave through the city’s historic districts. Found on the slopes of the Red Cross, a neighborhood once defined by the silk-weaving industry, the passage dates back to the 19th century and reflects the everyday movements of workers climbing between their homes, workshops, and the steep stairways that linked the hilltop to central Lyon.

This passage connects Rene-Leynaud Street with Burdeau Street through a sequence of narrow walkways and stone staircases, creating different levels and perspectives as you climb. Entering through its arched doorway on Rene-Leynaud Street, visitors find themselves in a striking corridor of stone steps that gradually reveal glimpses of the surrounding architecture. The verticality of the route and the interplay of light and shadow give the space a unique character, offering a more authentic, less curated experience than other traboules in the city.

In 2019, the stairs of the Mermet Passage were given a new dimension thanks to Belgian artist WENC, who transformed them into a vibrant canvas. This artistic intervention breathed new life into the historic passage, blending Lyon’s heritage with contemporary street art and making it an open-air gallery for residents and visitors alike.

The passage takes its name from Doctor Mermet, a municipal councilor of Lyon around 1830, whose house provided direct access to the traboule. Today, the Mermet Passage stands as a place where history and creativity converge, inviting travelers to walk through layers of the city’s past while discovering its present-day cultural vitality.