Rue Commandant Marchand

Slipping between a building and a crèche, Rue Commandant Marchand stretches before us. It begins facing 123 Cours Docteur Long and ends opposite 78 Rue Ferdinand Buisson. This street, opened in the early 20th century, honors Jean Baptiste Marchand. He was born in Thoissey in 1863 and died in Paris in 1934. Marchand’s military career took him to Africa. As a Commandant, he led an expedition towards the Nile, reaching Fachoda. This expedition, detailed in “La grande traversée de l’Afrique, 1896-1899 Congo-Fachoda-Djibouti,” made him famous. Rue Commandant Marchand reflects the diverse architectural styles of early 20th-century Lyon. At numbers 4 and 6, a small three-story building is adorned with stained glass and medallions. Similar medallions can be seen across the street at number 7 bis, along with some decorative ceramics. The street ends with slightly recessed individual houses. Number 9, with its roughcast finish, features numerous decorative elements. Beyond his African exploits, Marchand also fought in China. He later rejoined the military for World War I, rising to the rank of General. A statue of him stands in Thoissey’s park. He is also honored by the Kitchener-Marchand bridge in Lyon. Interestingly, the street’s namesake might have been another Marchand entirely. Henri Marchand, a Lyon native, created remarkably accurate globes of the Earth and stars in 1701. These globes, held at the Part Dieu library, accurately depicted the sources of the Nile years before their official discovery. Another Marchand family, once residing at 212 Route de Vienne, owned the Grange d’Ainay and the Gerland rivers. Even further back, in 1584, Dom Marchand served as the first prior of the Carthusian monks in Lyon. He later became the order’s superior. Rue Commandant Marchand, therefore, carries echoes of various Marchand figures. Yet, the street primarily celebrates Jean Baptiste Marchand and his daring African expedition. A local historian, Georges Bazin, once resided at 7 bis Rue Commandant Marchand, adding another layer of history to this quiet Lyon street.