“What’s in a name?” you might ask while standing here at Impasse Édouard Aynard. More than you think. This isn’t just any alley. It’s a story etched in stone and memory.
Impasse Édouard Aynard is not just a street. It represents a bridge between Lyon and Villeurbanne. Only its southern part belongs to Lyon. The northern side resides in Villeurbanne. Cars can drive on it. The road rises gently eastward from Rue Saint Eusèbe.
Édouard Aynard himself was a prominent figure. He was born in Lyon on January 1 1837. He died in Paris on June 25 1913. Aynard was serving as a deputy of the Rhône at the Palais Bourbon when he passed away. In 1869 he lived at 28 Place Bellecour. By 1910 he resided at 31 Boulevard du Nord now Boulevard des Belges. He is buried in Écully. His birth certificate lists his first name as Mathieu.
Aynard was a captain of industry in Lyon. He headed his own bank in the early 20th century. He directed the Banque de France in Lyon. Later he became its regent. He served as president of the Chamber of Commerce for a long time. His bust is on Place de la Bourse. He helped create the Musée des Tissus. He also helped restore Fontenay Abbey. He used the abbey as his secondary residence.
His son Francisque Aynard took over the bank. It later merged with other regional banks. This formed the Crédit Commercial de France.
The Académie de Lyon published an essay by Buche about his life and work. Before him François Henri Aynard was born in 1796. He died in Lyon in 1866. He owned a large cloth factory. He also presided over the commercial court. He was a censor at the Banque de France in Lyon. He also served as a member of the city council.
Théodore Aynard lived from 1812 to 1902. He resided at 11 Quai Saint Clair. He was an engineer who directed railway construction in Lyon during the 1850s. He published a history of Quai Saint Clair.
Paul and Raymond Aynard died for France during the First World War. The Impasse Édouard Aynard is named after the Rue Aynard in Villeurbanne. The two streets connect. Do not confuse it with Rue Eynard in the second district.
Until the 1990s Impasse Saint Eusèbe was opened. It was not really connected to Lyon. It linked two streets in Villeurbanne Rue Pascal and Rue Édouard Aynard. The Lyon section of Rue Pascal was renamed Rue Saint Eusèbe. There was already a Rue Pascal in the district.
On the south side stands a building flank. It rises three then two stories compensating for the slope. Beyond it lies a lawn behind a fence then another building flank. The north side features older houses in gardens.
So as you walk this short street remember Édouard Aynard. He left a lasting impact on Lyon. His legacy lives on in this unassuming impasse. It connects more than just two streets. It links the past with the present. It reminds us of a man who shaped Lyon’s industry culture and history.