27 Saint-Jean Street / 6 Trois-Maries Street
You are now at 27 rue Saint-Jean, facing the entrance to a traboule that will lead you to number 6 rue des Trois Maries, one of the most charming alleys in Lyon, not to be missed. This traboule is distinguished by its unique character. Upon entering, you will discover a first ochre courtyard, recently restored and resplendent with colors. The spiral staircases and galleries, magnificently highlighted by a palette of colors, blend harmoniously into the Renaissance setting of the buildings. The second courtyard, smaller, has three Italian-inspired galleries. The street, in the shape of a boomerang, reveals this typical curvature of Old Lyon, transporting you directly to the 16th century.
Before leaving, take a look at the mailboxes in the hallway. They were used by the French Resistance during the occupation to transmit messages. A TV movie dedicated to Jean Moulin, an emblematic figure of the Resistance, was even filmed there. Moulin, General de Gaulle's representative in France, was tasked with unifying the resistance movements before being arrested and tortured by Klaus Barbie.
As you leave, you arrive at Rue des Trois Maries, whose name comes from an old sign representing three saints: Marie Salomé, Marie Jacobée and Marie Magdala. According to legend, after the death of Christ, these three "Maries" crossed the seas to "Sainte-Marie-de-la-Mer" in Camargue. This tradition is said to have influenced Lyon via Provençal stories. By the way, did you know that Mary Magdalene died in Provence, at Sainte-Baume, where her relics are still venerated?