Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a foodborne bacterial pathogen that causes listeriosis, a severe infection that manifests as bacteremia and meningo-encephalitis mostly in immunocompromised individuals, and maternal-fetal infection. A critical pathogenic determinant of Lm relies on its ability to actively cross the intestinal barrier, disseminate systemically and cross the blood-brain and placental barriers. Here we illustrate how Lm both evades innate immunity, favoring its dissemination in host tissues, and triggers innate immune defenses that participate to its control.