The Cours Docteur Long a name whispered on the wind. It’s a story etched into the very stones beneath your feet. This seemingly ordinary street in Lyon’s 3rd arrondissement holds a secret. A secret of courage resistance and sacrifice.
Cours Docteur Long wasn’t always Cours Docteur Long. It was once Cours Henri a simple street in Montchat. But its name changed in April 1945. It was renamed to honor a remarkable man a hero of the French Resistance Dr Jean Long.
Dr Long born in 1906 in Haute-Savoie was a humble doctor. He practiced medicine in Lyon graduating in 1932. He married Marie Carron a talented pianist and singer. They had two children Guetty who became a painter and Henri who became a urological surgeon. Dr Long worked at the Saint-Luc Hospital in Lyon. He later specialized in rheumatology.
But Dr Long’s life was not just about healing the body. He was deeply affected by France’s surrender in 1940. He felt a powerful need to defend his country’s values. “Healing and helping were his vocation” his daughter Guetty recalled. He joined the Resistance. He distributed leaflets and newspapers. He treated injured Resistance fighters secretly providing vital care. He even became part of the secret army’s medical service led by General Delestraint.
His dedication was dangerous. On October 22 1943 the militia arrested him at his home at number 18 Cours Henri now Cours Docteur Long. He was taken to Montluc Prison tortured and brutally murdered on October 23 1943 on the road to Feyzin a road now also named in his honor. He was posthumously awarded the Legion of Honour with the citation “Mort pour la France” death for France.
His daughter Guetty only eight at the time remembers her father’s commitment. She emphasizes the historical significance of his actions. It shows the importance of fighting for liberty equality and fraternity. She even co-authored a book about Montchat the neighborhood where the Cours Docteur Long is located.
Look around you. Notice the buildings some old some new. Imagine Dr Long walking these streets. His bravery his sacrifice they are woven into the fabric of Cours Docteur Long. Today this street thrives. But it also serves as a powerful reminder of a man who gave everything for his country. A man whose legacy lives on in the very name of the street.