Rue Félix Rollet

Gazing down Rue Félix Rollet, can you sense the echoes of its industrial past? Rue Félix Rollet, a relatively young street in Lyon, stretches from Rue Feuillat and curves to meet Rue Rochaix. It also connects Rue Elie Paris to Rue Germain David. But its youth belies the rich history embedded in the very ground we stand on. For much of the 20th century, this area pulsed with the activity of industrial giants. Rochet Schneider, Berliet, and finally Renault Véhicules Industriels all left their mark here. Imagine the clang of machinery, the shouts of workers, the constant hum of production that once filled the air along Rue Félix Rollet. In 2016, the street was just a pathway through construction, a glimpse of what was to come. The pavement was unfinished, and fences bordered the route, hinting at the transformation underway. After the closure of the Renault factory, the space became a canvas for the artists of grrnnd zèro. Their vibrant spray paint art breathed new life into the old factory walls, a colorful rebellion against the grey of industry. In 2021, a magnificent mural emerged on the former factory wall facing Rue Feuillat. The area continues to evolve. Educational institutions have taken root here. The Emile Cohl art school, with its striking brown facade and undulating entry canopy, now stands proudly along Rue Félix Rollet. Several vocational schools, a library, student housing, and a gymnasium are all part of the revitalized landscape. The Parc Zénith offers a green escape, its wooden railings echoing the architectural elements of the surrounding buildings. This park provides access to the library, a testament to the community-focused redevelopment of the area. Rue Félix Rollet honors a remarkable man. Félix Rollet, who lived from 1905 to 2009, was not just a street name. He was a resistance fighter, imprisoned in Montluc and later active in the Vercors maquis. He served as mayor of Fontaines-Saint-Martin and as a Lyon city council member and deputy for roadwork and urban planning. He even presided over SEPR, the professional training organization whose schools now occupy the southern side of his namesake street. Rue Félix Rollet tells a story of transformation. From industrial heartland to artistic expression, from dereliction to revitalization, this street embodies the ever-changing spirit of Lyon.