Considering a street built where abattoirs once stood. That’s Rue Jacques Monod. This street in Lyon now pulses with modern life. But its past whispers of a different time.
Rue Jacques Monod begins at Rue de Saint Cloud. It faces the ENS Lyon sciences site. The street used to end at Rue Marcel Mérieux. It was extended to Allée de Fontenay in 2019.
Walk along Rue Jacques Monod. Notice the modern buildings on both sides. The north side buildings have a perystyle. This extends onto Rue Mérieux. It shelters the entrances of businesses. Look closer. The buildings show many volumes. You will see some oblique lines.
A passage south of Rue Jacques Monod leads to a small garden. This garden connects to Allée d’Italie. Opposite this passage, another path goes to a slightly larger garden. It continues to Avenue Debourg. A red color surrounds the porch leading to the south garden.
In 2019, the section between Mérieux and Fontenay became a concrete path. A row of young trees separates the road from the pedestrian walkway. The walkway runs in front of the library’s glass windows beneath an apartment building. On the north side, an old house sits on the corner of Rue Mérieux. Construction has started on the large plot stretching to Allée de Fontenay and Avenue Debourg.
Who was Jacques Monod? He was born in Paris on February 9, 1910. He died in Cannes on May 31, 1976. Monod was a researcher in genetics and molecular biology. He studied DNA and RNA. He won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1965. He is also known for his book “Le Hasard et la Necessité”.
His wife Odette was the curator of the Guimet Museum in Paris. Another Monod, Jérôme, headed the Lyonnaise des Eaux. Théodore Monod supported the GARM in Lyon. GARM was an anti-militarization group active from 1967 to 1984.
Rue Jacques Monod is quite commercial. You’ll find a bank and a post office. A restaurant and an employment agency are also present. You can see an insurance company, medical practices and two pharmacies. There is even an ambulance service. The Gerland library opened at number 34 in 2017. In 2019, the library promoted a seed exchange service.
Getting here is easy. Several bus lines serve Rue Jacques Monod. These include lines 34, BR60, C10 and C7. The closest bus stop is Ens Lyon. It is only a two minute walk. Halle Tony Garnier is also nearby. It is a four minute walk away.
The nearest tram stop is Debourg. It’s about nine minutes on foot. Debourg is also the closest metro station. You can reach it with an eleven minute walk.
Rue Jacques Monod transformed from slaughterhouse grounds to a modern street. The street stands as a testament to Lyon’s evolution. It celebrates scientific achievement. Take a moment to appreciate this blend of past and present.