Place de la République (Lyon)
Encyclopedia
The Place de la République is a square located in the Bellecour quarter, in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon
. It belongs to the zone classified as World Heritage Site
by UNESCO.
at the same time as the rue Impériale (now named rue de la République) in the second half of the 19th century when major works were led by the Prefect of Rhône Claude-Marius Vaïsse
. Between 1862 and 1871, it was named Place Impériale, then renamed Place de Lyon. When the rue de Lyon was renamed rue de la République (by prefectoral order of 5 September 1878), the place probably received its current name.
Originally, there was a fountain at the center, flanked by two flower beds and trees at the east and the west. Then in the early 20th century, a statue of Sadi Carnot
, planes were added, and removed in 1974 during the construction of the metro
. In 1990, an underground car park was created.
, the rue Childebert (reference to Childebert I
) is just in front of the square. Other three streets are directly connected to the square : the rue Jean de Tournes, the rue Stella et the rue du Président Carnot. A traboule
/ shopping mall
from the rue du Président-Édouard-Herriot also provides an access to the square : the Passage de l'Argue
. The square is rectangular and a total of 11 streets lead to it.
The Place de la République is now composed of two kiosks, a glass carousel
, two large plane trees, benches (at north). In the middle of the square, there is a large rectangular pool with many water jets and all around, stores of all types. To the north and the south, there are two three-floor houses which include wolves and monsters in their architecture. There is a more modern and higher building at the corner of the rue Childebert. However, the large fountain at the center of the square is harmful because pedestrians can not cross diagonally the square.
2nd arrondissement of Lyon
The 2nd arrondissement of Lyon is one of the nine arrondissements of the City of Lyon.-History:The first five arrondissements of Lyon were created by the Decree of March 24, 1852, which included the 2nd arrondissement.The current mayor is Denis Broliquier....
. It belongs to the zone classified as World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
by UNESCO.
History
This place was created in the dense urban web of the Presqu'îlePresqu'ile (Lyon)
The Presqu’île, literally the "peninsula", extending from the foot of the Croix Rousse hill to the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône rivers, is in the city centre of Lyon, France. It has a preponderance of cafés, restaurants, luxury shops, department stores, banks, government buildings, and...
at the same time as the rue Impériale (now named rue de la République) in the second half of the 19th century when major works were led by the Prefect of Rhône Claude-Marius Vaïsse
Claude-Marius Vaïsse
Claude-Marius Vaïsse was a French politician, former prefect of Lyon, called the "Hausmann lyonnais".- Political career :...
. Between 1862 and 1871, it was named Place Impériale, then renamed Place de Lyon. When the rue de Lyon was renamed rue de la République (by prefectoral order of 5 September 1878), the place probably received its current name.
Originally, there was a fountain at the center, flanked by two flower beds and trees at the east and the west. Then in the early 20th century, a statue of Sadi Carnot
Marie François Sadi Carnot
Marie François Sadi Carnot was a French statesman and the fourth president of the Third French Republic. He served as the President of France from 1887 until his assassination in 1894.-Early life:...
, planes were added, and removed in 1974 during the construction of the metro
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
. In 1990, an underground car park was created.
Location and architecture
From the Place BellecourPlace Bellecour
The Place Bellecour is a large town square in Lyon, France, to the north of the Ainay district. Measuring 312 m by 200 m , it is the largest clear square in Europe, and the third biggest square of France, behind the place des Quinconces in Bordeaux et the place de la...
, the rue Childebert (reference to Childebert I
Childebert I
Childebert I was the Frankish king of Paris, a Merovingian dynast, one of the four sons of Clovis I who shared the kingdom of the Franks upon their father's death in 511...
) is just in front of the square. Other three streets are directly connected to the square : the rue Jean de Tournes, the rue Stella et the rue du Président Carnot. A traboule
Traboule
Traboules are a type of passageway primarily associated with the city of Lyon, France, but also located in the French cities of Villefranche-sur-Saône, Mâcon, Saint-Étienne, along with a few in Chambéry)...
/ shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
from the rue du Président-Édouard-Herriot also provides an access to the square : the Passage de l'Argue
Passage de l'Argue
The Passage de l'Argue is a covered hall located in the Bellecour quarter, in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon, which connects the rue de la République to the rue Édouard-Herriot and the rue de Brest. This is one of the oldest arcades in French Province, built on the same model as the Parisian ones...
. The square is rectangular and a total of 11 streets lead to it.
The Place de la République is now composed of two kiosks, a glass carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
, two large plane trees, benches (at north). In the middle of the square, there is a large rectangular pool with many water jets and all around, stores of all types. To the north and the south, there are two three-floor houses which include wolves and monsters in their architecture. There is a more modern and higher building at the corner of the rue Childebert. However, the large fountain at the center of the square is harmful because pedestrians can not cross diagonally the square.