Rue du Lac

Slipping through time, imagine Lyon in 1812. Suddenly, a lake appears in the Brotteaux district. This “Lac des Brotteaux” gives Rue du Lac its name. Rue du Lac, a street echoing a vanished landmark. It begins at Rue du Docteur Bouchut and flows south to Avenue Félix Faure at Place Bir Hakeim. The street presents a blend of residences and industries. Rue du Lac’s west side begins with a fifteen-story apartment building, a 1970s icon. An esplanade with plants lies before it. Further down, a small school hides behind a hedge. The east side features Place du Lac and the Grand Lyon building, home to the Lyon metropolitan area’s assembly and offices. Notice the concrete Atelier de la Rize building. Past Rue Paul Bert, Rue du Lac transforms. Rows of four-to-six-story residential buildings line the street. Some are older, more traditional structures, while others boast modern designs with prominent balconies. Number 39 stands out with its black door and courtyard garages. Look for the letter “S” at number 66, on the corner of Avenue Félix Faure. Looking north, the Part-Dieu tower dominates the skyline. The “lake” was more of a flood plain. It was part of the Rhône River’s flood area. A low-lying section fostered resurgence. The famed lake appeared suddenly on February 17, 1812. It even garnered an article in the newspaper “Le Moniteur”. The area was finally drained in 1864. This low-lying area retained floodwaters until Lyon expanded here around 1850. The southern part of Rue du Lac developed first. The northern part belonged to the Part-Dieu farm, later a military fort. Cavalry regiments occupied the area from 1860 to 1965. A monument stands on a nearby square. After the military departed, the land was quickly developed. This is evident in the Lac apartment building and the Grand Lyon building. The area’s success and job opportunities led to further residential development. On October 22, 2009, police discovered a counterfeiting operation at the OFD printing house on Rue du Lac. They were preparing to print a large quantity of Algerian dinars. By 2021, transformation was complete. Number 46, in the 1900s style, remained on the west side. On the east, similar-era buildings stand between Rue Rancy and Rue du Pensionnat. Other buildings date from the 1980s, with number 48 built in 1991. Today, Rue du Lac isn’t primarily a commercial street. Besides architectural firms, there are some businesses and paramedical offices. A bicycle parking structure was added in 2024. Rue du Lac stands as a testament to Lyon’s evolving landscape, a reminder of a time when a lake shimmered where concrete and steel now rise.