“Passerby tell the world that they died for freedom.” This inscription echoes through time here at Place des Martyrs de la Résistance. It touches us deeply. This square remembers the martyrs of the French Resistance during the German occupation from 1940 to 1944.
Place des Martyrs de la Résistance wasn’t always its name. It was first named Place Garibaldi. In 1915, the city council dedicated it to Bruno Garibaldi. He was the grandson of Giuseppe Garibaldi. Bruno died for France in Argonne. The square also honored Bruno’s brother Constantin. He died in battle on January 6, 1915. A plaque at the school preserves their memory. Their brother Joseph was a colonel in the French army during that war.
After France’s liberation, Charles de Gaulle declared Lyon the capital of the Resistance. Jean Moulin united all French Resistance movements in Lyon. Countless places in Lyon hold memories of this time. Plaques commemorate killed resistance fighters.
One such fighter, Jean Bianchero, is remembered just across the street. His memorial is at 232 rue Garibaldi.
Today, Place des Martyrs de la Résistance is bordered by several streets. These include cours Garibaldi to the west and rue Paul Bert to the north. Rue Léon Jouhaux borders it to the east. Rue des Rancy is to the south.
The square offers a view of the Grand Lyon building. It features trees and old benches in the center. However, the nearby rue Garibaldi makes it noisy.
The square opened in 1900 on vacant land. This was after the construction of the school on rue Jouhaux. The school’s coat of arms with lions bears the date 1912. It was enlarged fifty years later. This enlargement occurred after the destruction of some buildings.
Extensive renovations took place until 2021. These works expanded the Jouhaux school. In 2023, further work continued. Cars are now absent. The asphalt has been removed in places. This allows vegetation to grow as if nature is reclaiming its space.
In 2022, the square’s only house became The PXL Tavern. Additionally, there is a market every Thursday morning. At other times, it serves as a parking area. The 2021 renovations included a fenced rectangle. This secures a play area for schoolchildren. It separates the alley on rue des Rancy from the rest of the square. Blocks and barriers prevent cars from entering.
To learn more about this period, visit the Resistance and Deportation History Center. It is located at 14 avenue Berthelot. This center is in the former Gestapo headquarters. It holds a remarkable collection of items. These include posters, song sheets, and materials from Resistance figures. Approximately 700 filmed stories document the experiences of Resistance members and deportees.