Clos Jouve: the pétanque spirit of the Croix-Rousse
On the heights of the Croix-Rousse, the Clos Jouve is a place steeped in history: for a long time it was a stronghold of Lyon-style boules. It straddles Lyon's 1st arrondissement, between Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse and Rue Pierre-Dupont, and the 4th arrondissement, between Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse and Rue Anselme. This down-to-earth, strongly rooted space is a landmark of the district and an endearing stop for anyone exploring the hill of the silk weavers.
A home of Lyon-style boules
The Clos Jouve owes its fame to Lyon-style boules, the traditional game that long made the district buzz. For decades the place was a home of the boules players, one of those down-to-earth spaces where people gathered to play, chat and put the world to rights. This sporting, sociable memory is part of the soul of the Croix-Rousse. For a visitor, discovering the Clos Jouve means touching a very Lyonnais side of neighbourhood life, where the game of boules holds a special place in local culture.
Straddling two arrondissements
The Clos Jouve has the particularity of straddling two arrondissements. On the 1st side, it lies between Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse and Rue Pierre-Dupont; on the 4th side, between Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse and Rue Anselme. This position makes it a place of passage and encounter at the heart of the hill, on the border between the slopes and the plateau. It is easy to reach on foot during a walk through the district, and makes a handy landmark for finding your way between the different faces of the Croix-Rousse.
A stop on the hill of the silk weavers
The Clos Jouve makes most sense as a stage in an exploration of the Croix-Rousse, the famous "hill that works", former stronghold of the silk weavers. You can pair it with a visit to the plateau and its famous market, or a descent into the slopes in search of the traboules. Everywhere, the district breathes a down-to-earth, endearing identity, of which the Clos Jouve is one of the symbols. For a visitor, it is a chance to grasp what makes the soul of this corner of Lyon, between working-class memory, neighbourhood life and very much living traditions.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Clos Jouve?
On the Croix-Rousse hill, straddling the 1st arrondissement (between Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse and Rue Pierre-Dupont) and the 4th arrondissement (between Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse and Rue Anselme).
Why is it well known?
Because it was long a home of Lyon-style boules, a traditional game emblematic of the region. It is a place steeped in down-to-earth, sporting memory.
What to combine it with?
With a visit to the Croix-Rousse plateau and its market, or a walk through the slopes in search of the traboules and the history of the silk weavers.
Wikimedia Commons — Sebleouf · Wikimedia Commons — Romainbehar
