Rue de Nazareth

Did you ever hear of a street named after a town halfway across the world? Here on Rue de Nazareth, that’s exactly what we encounter. Rue de Nazareth, tucked away in Lyon’s 3rd arrondissement, carries a whisper of the Holy Land within its name. The street is a bit of a puzzle. It exists in two sections. A short stretch runs from Rue Sainte-Anne-de-Baraban, then angles eastward to meet Rue de la Cité at Place de la Ferrandière. Rue de Nazareth even shares its southern border with the Place de la Ferrandière. This creates a curious address situation. Buildings on the north side of the square boast a “Place de la Ferrandière” address. Those on the south side remain on Rue de Nazareth. Why Nazareth? One theory connects the name to the Dames de Nazareth. This religious congregation, focused on education, established a presence here in the 19th century. Their order, founded in 1827, drew inspiration from the town of Nazareth in Galilee. Nazareth, of course, is venerated as the childhood home of Jesus. The street’s name is a subtle nod to this connection. Rue de Nazareth, however, wasn’t always Rue de Nazareth. Records show it once bore the simpler title, “Chemin de Nazareth” or Nazareth Path. This humble path led to Place de Nazareth, which later became Place de la Ferrandière, also known for a time as Place Dumoy. There’s even a vanished Impasse de Nazareth, a lost alleyway once accessible from this very street. Rue de Nazareth has seen its share of commerce. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, businesses like Gignoux & Cie and later Vindry et Cie manufactured chemicals and varnishes at numbers 2-6 and 10. A metal foundry operated at number 8, and a weaving workshop could be found at number 12. Today, modern apartment buildings dominate much of the streetscape. The “La Bellecordière” complex, built in the late 1970s, stretches along the street and incorporates numbers 3, 6, and 8. The name honors Louise Labé, a Renaissance poet from Lyon. Other buildings from the 1980s and 1990s line the longer eastern section, ending with a trio of older, smaller houses. Rue de Nazareth quietly preserves echoes of its past, a blend of religious history and local industry, nestled within the vibrant heart of Lyon.