Perhaps you’ve wondered about the story behind the name of this unassuming street. I mean Rue Benoît Bernard.
Welcome to Rue Benoît Bernard. It is a street that holds more than meets the eye. This isn’t just another road. It’s a place with stories etched into its very existence.
Rue Benoît Bernard begins on Rue Auguste Chollat. It ends on Route de Vienne. This street runs for about a hundred meters eastward. Cars moving here go west.
But who was Benoît Bernard?
Barthélémy Bernard owned land around here. Perhaps Benoît did before him. Municipal archives tell us of a Benoît Bernard. He was born in Chonas in 1817. He died at 23 Chemin de la Vitriolerie in 1903. His father and son shared the name Barthélémy. The latter was an architect near here. His office was at 74 Route de Vienne. Rive Gauche magazine confirms this. They have a document from the 1903 archives. His son Joseph was also a founder. Another Bernard is also honored in Lyon. René Bernard was a resistant fighter killed in Place Bellecour. He helped inspire the stone man monument. Claude and Jean Marc Bernard are also honored in Lyon.
Rue Benoît Bernard came to life in the 1920s. The Route de Vienne building dates back to 1931. The Mandy residence was built later. It went up after the Mandy company left in the 1960s.
At the start of Rue Benoît Bernard, you will see a contrast. Grilles mark the parking area. This parking belongs to the Mandy residence. Two nine-story towers loom. Gardens lie nearby. One garden sits lower. It has well-planted fir trees. The other is a public garden. A hedge surrounds it. A path cuts through it. It leads to a round area. Four benches sit here. Also children can enjoy three balancing games. A double building stands on the north corner of Rue Chollat. The larger part is at the corner. The smaller has balconies facing the garden. A small building follows. Then comes a large eight-story building. It is nonante Route de Vienne. It ends with an overhang on the north side. The south side ends at the PTT association building. Today Rezo 1901 has replaced this association.
In 2018, you could find two restaurants here on Rue Benoît Bernard.
So, next time you find yourself on Rue Benoît Bernard, remember its layers. Think of Benoît Bernard and the history that shaped this little street.