A six-branched star. That’s how Place René Deroudille in Lyon reveals itself. Its metal plaque marks the center of this small roundabout. This unassuming square holds a fascinating history. It’s more than just a traffic circle. It’s a hidden gem. Located in Lyon’s 6th arrondissement at the intersection of Rue Juliette Récamier Rue Ney and Rue Vauban. Place René Deroudille boasts a past as rich and layered as the city itself.
Before it was Place René Deroudille it was known as Place Juliette Récamier. Even earlier it was called Place Moncey. The names themselves tell a story. Each one representing an era of Lyon’s development.
The square sits on the ancient Chemin des Charpennes. This old road is a silent witness to centuries of life. People have passed through this very spot for a long time. The area’s population was concentrated in La Guillotière and Les Charpennes. Urbanization transformed the area in the 19th century. Many of the buildings are quite old. But a couple of buildings on the northeast side of Rue Juliette Récamier seem to date from the 2000s. They stand in contrast to their older neighbors.
René Deroudille himself a significant figure in Lyon’s cultural scene lends his name to the place. Born in 1911 in Uzès and dying in Francheville in 1992. Deroudille was an art critic for the newspaper Lyon Matin. Interestingly a 2022 plaque also honors him as a pharmacist. A 2014 article in Le Progrès hints at his pharmacy’s location on the square. This place was once the bustling center of his life.
He participated in the exhibition Lyon au fil des fleuves. The city’s municipal library keeps several photographs of him. An article in Lyon People from 2003 detailed the name change. His daughter Cécile Deroudille even made a film L’affaire Dubuffet. This film recounts the arrival of “Le paysage blond” into the collections of the Musée des Beaux-Arts. The square itself lacks art installations. Deroudille however was a serious art enthusiast. He bought paintings now found at Lyon’s fine arts museum. One notable piece is Le Viol de la Vierge by René Duvillier.
Today Place René Deroudille thrives with a mix of businesses. There is an audit firm a supermarket and a shop for hunters. A pharmacy and a florist add to the charm. Also a hair salon completes the square’s vibrant energy. In 2022 the square housed two hair salons a lamp store a housing agency a credit institution the florist and the supermarket.
So next time you’re in Lyon take a moment to stand in Place René Deroudille. Feel the history beneath your feet. Let the stories of this little square transport you. Remember René Deroudille the man. Remember the lives that have walked this ancient path. This isn’t just a place. It’s a vibrant piece of Lyon’s soul.