Traboules

[mythusmage]

If you have no idea what the subject is all about, welcome to the club. If you do, relay what you do know, and where a person can learn more.

All I know is that traboules are covered passageways in the city of Lyon, France. I am interested in learning more about them.

Think of what you could do with them in a fantasy city.

 

[RogueJK]

Traboules are basically covered alleyways... There's really nothing special about the concept.

Since Lyon lacked the space for an extensive street network, traboules were used to connect various buildings to the main streets. They were also used as a way for 14th-15th century silk merchants to safely transfer their wares from their houses to the market during rainy weather.

During World War Two, the people of Lyon kept their existance a secret from the German invaders. By masking some of the outer entrances, the French Resistance was then able to use these passageways as a way to evade Nazi patrols.

 

[mythusmage]

You've never been in a traboules, have you?

I learned about the subject from a segment on a History Channel documentary regarding secret passages. It included shots of different traboules, a number of which were so much more than mere covered allies. One that included mulitple flights of stairs for instance.

You are like a man who glances at the blurb on the back of a book, and thinks he's read the trilogy. Try following up any leads that appear in this thread and learn something of the subject.