Along the bustling Cours Vitton, tucked away, lies Rue Béranger. This seemingly unassuming street holds a fascinating story, a tale woven into the fabric of Lyon’s urban tapestry. Rue Béranger isn’t named after the famous Parisian poet Pierre-Jean de Béranger, a common misconception. Our Rue Béranger honors Joseph Béranger, an innovator in the world of weighing instruments. He established his factory in Lyon in 1827, initially at 10 Cours du Trocadero, later moving to 39 Cours Morand and eventually to La Mulatière. Joseph Béranger’s legacy lived on through his company’s advancements in balance and scale technology until the late 20th century.
The street itself, born in the early 20th century, stretches from Cours Vitton to Cours Lafayette, hugging the eastern wall of the railway line. Much of it is more a passage than a street, closed off by barriers. It’s a popular spot for employees heading to work or enjoying their breaks. The architecture of Rue Béranger reflects the passage of time. Early 20th-century buildings line the initial stretch, including workshops like the one at number 4, dated 1926 and signed by Aug. Eyraud. Further down, near Rue Curtelin, a large concrete building rises on the east side. Beyond that, Rue Béranger merges into Rue Rambaud, near a significant construction site within the ZAC Thiers. In 2015, this area transformed into a tranquil aquatic garden. From there, you can admire the unusual padded back of the EDF building and the shimmering glass facade of Egis, reflecting in the water.
Rue Béranger reemerges before Rue Vauban and Rue de la Viabert, a ramp leading up to the railway embankment. After these streets intersect, it passes beneath a long porch. The street continues, nestled between the stone wall of the railway and the sharp angles of modern buildings. Some of these buildings overhang the street, creating an intriguing interplay of old and new. One structure even boasts a small courtyard, sheltered by a double glass skin. Reaching Cours Lafayette, you’ll navigate a chicane under another porch, then pass beneath a wide channel connecting a building on Avenue Thiers with the curved workshop of the newspaper Paru Vendu. While the Parisian poet Pierre-Jean de Béranger may not be the street’s namesake, another Béranger with Lyon connections also deserves mention. Laurent Pierre Bérenger, a writer, served as the first headmaster of the Lyon lycée in 1803 and even addressed Napoleon Bonaparte in 1805. This area once housed a path called Chemin Saint Paterne, replaced by Rue Béranger in 1898. As you walk along Rue Béranger today, imagine the echoes of its past. From the hustle and bustle of Joseph Béranger’s weighing instrument factory to the quiet footsteps of employees taking their breaks, this street resonates with the stories of Lyon.