Gazing up at the Monseigneur Lavarenne Bust, one might wonder about the man behind the bronze. This bust, right here in Place Benoît-Crépu, immortalizes Joseph Lavarenne, a prominent figure in Lyon. The Monseigneur Lavarenne Bust, created in 1954 by architect Jean Cateland, originally resided in the Palais Saint-Jean’s courtyard. It eventually found its home here in Place Benoît-Crépu. Monseigneur Lavarenne, born in Lyon in 1882, wasn’t just a man of the cloth. He was a writer, a playwright, and a champion of social Catholicism. He served as director of the Missionary Union of the Clergy of France. He also held prominent positions within the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Society of Saint Peter the Apostle. He even earned the honorary title of Apostolic Protonotary. Beyond his religious duties, Monseigneur Lavarenne embraced Lyonnaise culture. He penned numerous works, sometimes using pseudonyms like Joseph des Verrières or Benoit Lerégent. He even wrote plays for Guignol, the beloved Lyonnaise puppet. A street in Lyon, Rue Monseigneur-Lavarenne, also bears his name, further cementing his legacy in the city. The inscription on the Monseigneur Lavarenne Bust reads “A Monseigneur Lavarenne lyonnais 1885-1949”. Interestingly, this inscription has his birth year incorrect. He was actually born in 1882 and died in 1949. So, as you admire the Monseigneur Lavarenne Bust, remember the multifaceted man it represents: a priest, a writer, a playwright, and a true Lyonnais.
Hôtel de Cuzieu
Question. What stories could these walls tell? Right here we are standing before the Hôtel de Cuzieu at 30 rue