Place de la Croix de Bois

What secrets does a simple name like Place de la Croix de Bois hold? Here at this intersection of three major streets in Lyon’s Croix-Rousse district, a story unfolds. Place de la Croix de Bois wasn’t always a place. In the mid-19th century, it existed, but its true identity emerged in 2003. The charming pedestrian path, lined with rose bushes, gave this widened space its designation as “Place”. Place de la Croix de Bois translates to “Place of the Wooden Cross”. Each area of Croix-Rousse had its own cross. There was the Croix Noire, the Croix Blanche, and here, the Croix de Bois. Legend says the wooden cross repelled witches from the entrance to the Rue d’Enfer, unafraid of demonic flames. Place de la Croix de Bois also offers a unique visual experience. At night, the violet glow of the Croix-Rousse hospital illuminates the square, a striking contrast to the modern and renovated buildings surrounding it. In 2004, a florist’s beautiful storefront graced the Place. By 2021, it transformed into a beauty institute, a testament to the ever-changing nature of the city. Even a seemingly mundane location like the employment agency holds a story. In earlier times, a small statue of the Virgin Mary watched over job seekers. By 2010, only the nail that once held the statue remained, replaced by a new logo. But by 2021, a new Virgin Mary statue reappeared above the agency, now a “pole”, a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of unemployment. Place de la Croix de Bois, a simple name, yet a place where history, legend, and modern life intertwine. A place that continues to evolve, holding onto whispers of the past while embracing the present.