Passage Meynis

Did Joseph Meynis, a tin manufacturer, ever imagine his name would grace a passage in Lyon? Passage Meynis, a somewhat unassuming pathway, stretches between Rue Antoine Charial and Avenue Félix Faure. It’s a relatively recent addition to Lyon’s urban fabric, appearing on maps only after 1974 and truly taking shape in the early 21st century. The city acquired the land where Passage Meynis now lies in 1906. Their intention was to build a school. This marked the beginning of the passage’s story. Today, the Meynis nursery and elementary schools stand near a plumbing fixture business. One side of Passage Meynis features a somewhat unsightly fence. This fence partially obscures a park and the single-story expanse of the Emilie de Vialar clinic. The other side runs along a concrete wall, passes two basketball courts, and ends at a two-part building connected by a gallery. Passage Meynis begins its journey with two six-story buildings. These buildings feature intriguing angled facades and intricate overhangs. Further down, the passage becomes more modest. Two unassuming buildings, at numbers 3 and 5, stand with two or three stories each. Passage Meynis concludes its path at the Meynis school, a long stone structure with a playground nestled in the corner. This school sits on the former site of a concrete workshop for plumbing fixtures and a saw-tooth factory that was later repurposed into an auto garage. While the passage itself might lack elegance, its namesake carries a rich history. Not only was Joseph Meynis a tin manufacturer and landowner, but other Meynis individuals have left their mark on Lyon. One Meynis played a significant role in the municipal sections during the French Revolution. Dominique Meynis (1800-1887) served as the secretary for the Propagation of the Faith and the Confraternity of the Martyrs of Saint Irenaeus. In 1884, yet another Meynis authored “Petit portefeuille lyonnais,” a book chronicling Lyon’s history. So, as you stroll through Passage Meynis, remember the man whose name it bears, and the echoes of Lyon’s past that resonate within its walls.