Université Lyon 3 – Campus Manufacture des Tabacs

Gazing at the Université Lyon 3 – Campus Manufacture des Tabacs, can you sense the layers of history whispering through its walls? This isn’t just a university. It’s a transformed tobacco factory, a phoenix rising from the ashes of Lyon’s industrial past. Université Lyon 3, as it’s often called, found its home here in the former Manufacture des Tabacs in the Monplaisir district. This building, with its distinctive binary north and south group design and vibrant facade, stands as a testament to a bygone era. The original Manufacture des Tabacs in the Perrache district, dating back to 1811, proved too small for the burgeoning tobacco industry. Construction on this site began in 1912, on land once occupied by the Lunette des Hirondelles, a 19th-century military fortification. Intended to be completed in five years, World War I intervened, delaying its completion until 1932. Yet, it began operations in 1927, churning out millions of cigarettes daily, including the “Troupes” for the army and the “Bleus” rolling tobacco. The scent of tobacco must have permeated every brick, every corner of this massive complex. In 1979, a fire ravaged parts of the building, necessitating reconstruction. But the factory’s days were numbered. In 1987, tobacco production ceased. The city of Lyon, envisioning a revitalized urban center with universities at its core, acquired the site in 1990 for Université Lyon 3. The transformation began in 1992. Students first filled its halls in 1993. The renovation, a complex undertaking, finally concluded in 2004. Today, the Manufacture des Tabacs campus pulsates with the energy of thousands of students. The iaelyon School of Management, the Faculty of Law, and the Faculty of Languages all call this campus home. Look around. The contemporary library, nestled within these historic walls, offers a wealth of knowledge across various disciplines. Even art finds its place here, with sculptures by Josef Ciesla gracing the courtyards. One, “Welon,” evokes a ship of dreams. The other, a fountain titled “Empreintes et Réesurgences,” pays tribute to Jean Moulin, the Resistance hero for whom the university is named. During the Fête des Lumières, the building becomes a canvas of light and color, a vibrant spectacle designed by students, a fitting tribute to this building’s journey through time. The Université Lyon 3 – Campus Manufacture des Tabacs isn’t merely a place of learning. It’s a living testament to Lyon’s industrial and cultural heritage, a place where the echoes of the past mingle with the aspirations of the future.