Avenue Verguin

Gazing upon Avenue Verguin, it’s hard not to feel the echoes of history and innovation. Avenue Verguin stretches from Boulevard des Belges, a continuation of Rue Montgolfier, all the way to Boulevard de Stalingrad. The avenue extends into Villeurbanne as Cours André Philip. This vital artery pulsates with two lanes heading east and one, then two, flowing west. It forms a crucial circuit from the tunnel under Croix-Rousse to Villeurbanne. Avenue Verguin is lined with parked cars nestled beneath rows of majestic plane trees. On the avenue’s north side stand the imposing gates of Tête d’Or Park. Two entrances beckon, the western one open to the public, offering glimpses of the enchanting greenhouses within. The south side is bisected by Avenue Anatole France. Beyond it rises the austere northern face of Lycée du Parc, its three, then two, stories of brown stone punctuated by large windows. Avenue Verguin boasts a striking array of early 20th-century buildings. Number 6, dating back to 1926, stands as a testament to the era’s architectural prowess. The first two buildings command attention. The corner with Boulevard des Belges features a rounded half-turn, emerging from angular wings hidden behind trees and bushes. Their red stone bases evoke the grandeur of Scottish manors. Number 4 displays a grand black iron gate, guarded by a sculpted head of a mage or druid. A large balcony, adorned with imposing sculptures, columns, decorative pots, and faces, graces the façade. The remaining buildings, while simpler, still impress with their substantial corbels. Avenue Verguin honors François Emmanuel Verguin, a Lyonnais chemist born in Lyon in 1814. He significantly contributed to the advancement of chemistry. Verguin left Lyon to work at the Raffard factory in Saint Maurice L’Exil. There, in 1859, he discovered fushine, the first artificial dye. This vibrant magenta red became one of the three primary colors. Before the avenue and the Lycée du Parc, this area housed the Lunette des Charpennes, a fort built in 1846 as part of Lyon’s fortifications. The fort was demolished in the early 20th century. In its place rose the Lycée, completed in 1913, and the houses that gave birth to Avenue Verguin. Today, the park’s presence draws numerous runners to the avenue’s wide sidewalks, adding a dynamic element to the historical backdrop. Avenue Verguin is more than just a street; it’s a living timeline. It embodies Lyon’s rich history of innovation and urban development.