Place de Valmy

Why is Place de Valmy the center of everything in Vaise? We’re standing at Place de Valmy, a bustling roundabout in the 9th arrondissement of Lyon. This isn’t just any square. It is the starting point for all street numbers in Vaise. Imagine the organizational headache before this system. Place de Valmy connects several important streets. Rue Marietton, Rue Berthet, Rue de Bourgogne, and Grande Rue de Vaise all converge here. South of the Place de Valmy stretches a large open area. This garden leads down to Place du Marché and the town hall of the 9th arrondissement. Place de Valmy is also a transportation hub. The metro has a station here, decorated with white figurines on a blue background. Buses 2 and 36 also stop here. Originally, this place was called Place de la Pyramide. A pyramid honoring Louis XVI once stood in the center. Both the king and the pyramid met unfortunate ends during the French Revolution. Now, Place de Valmy commemorates a different historical event. The victory of the revolutionary armies over the Prussians at Valmy on September 20, 1792. This battle became a symbol of revolutionary France’s strength. The famous writer Goethe even considered it the dawn of a new era. Place de Valmy also plays a role in modern literature. It’s the central location in a novel by Patrick Maupin. The novel explores Vaise in concentric circles, searching for a worker’s pass. In 2003, Radio Nostalgie tried to create a kind of “Hollywood Boulevard of French Song” here. They implanted handprints of famous French singers in the pavement. You might recognize names like Antoine, Véronique Sanson, Serge Lama, and Claude Nougaro. The library at Place de Valmy has a unique design. Its convex glass facade reflects the surrounding buildings. Above, a metal grid offers a great view of the square to those inside. A small, round esplanade with trees sits at the junction of Rue Marietton and Rue de Bourgogne. At night, the library is illuminated in various colors. Place de Valmy isn’t just history and architecture. It’s also a center for commerce and daily life. The Cave Valmy, a wine shop, proudly displays its history, “since 1900”. It once served as a restaurant as well. The Café au Grand Paris offers outdoor seating. Other businesses around the square include phone vendors, a hairdresser, and osteopaths. So next time you find yourself at Place de Valmy, take a moment to appreciate its layered history. From a royal pyramid to a symbol of revolution, this place has seen it all. It is the heart of Vaise, a crossroads of history and modern life.