Passage de l'Argue, hall in the Bellecour quarter, in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon, France
The Passage de l'Argue is a covered walkway in Lyon's 2nd arrondissement connecting Rue de Brest to Rue de la République and topped by a glass roof. The corridor is lined with shops featuring wooden fronts, hanging lanterns provide soft lighting, and classical arches frame the structure throughout its length.
Built in 1825 in neoclassical style inspired by Milanese galleries, the passage was reshaped in 1852 to accommodate the new Rue Edouard-Herriot. It served as refuge during the Canut uprisings and functioned as a center for jewelry and metalwork trades across generations.
The passage's name comes from its connection to precious metal work, where craftspeople once shaped gold and silver into fine decorative threads. The wooden shop fronts and hanging lanterns visible today reflect how locals and visitors have used this space as a gathering point and shopping street for nearly two centuries.
The passage is open daily year-round and sits centrally in Lyon, easily reached from the Bellecour district. The flat, level route offers simple pedestrian access and remains walkable regardless of weather due to its glass covering.
Since 2018, a large colorful mosaic heart decorates the glass roof, created by Lyon street artists. This vibrant artwork symbolically replaces a stolen Mercury statue and brings modern artistic expression to the historic space.
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