Named in honor of a visionary. The Quai Perrache stretches before us a testament to Lyon’s ambition. Antoine Michel Perrache an engineer and sculptor conceived a bold project here.
Quai Perrache is a long road. It runs along the right bank of the Rhône. This is north of the confluence with the Saône.
Let’s journey back to the 1760s and 1770s. Perrache envisioned shifting the confluence. He planned to create a new district. This area would expand Lyon southward. His plan aimed to reclaim land from the rivers. He wanted to consolidate islands in the Rhône. King Louis XV approved his project. It sought to regain two kilometers of land. This epic construction wasn’t fully realized until 1841.
The Quai Perrache we see today has evolved. It was first named Cours Perrache. This was from 1830 to 1837. Then, it became Chaussée Perrache. This lasted from 1837 to 1890. Finally, on May 9 1890, it officially became Quai Perrache.
Imagine the changes along Quai Perrache. In 1857-1858, the roadway transformed. It became a quay. This included double access ramps. These ramps served the Lyon to Saint-Étienne railway. They also served the abattoirs. These were between Cours Bayard and Rue Casimir-Perrier.
Since 1971, the A7 highway has paralleled the Quai Perrache.
Consider the architectural points of interest here on Quai Perrache. The Saint-Joseph prison stood at the beginning of the quay. Architect Louis-Pierre Baltard built it between 1827 and 1831. It closed in 2009. It has been redeveloped into offices, housing and a student residence.
Think about the bustling market-railway station. It was built on Quai Perrache between 1956 and 1961. It moved to Corbas in 2009. Part of the building remains. It reopened in September 2022. It is now a cultural space for contemporary music.
The Quai Perrache ends at the confluence of the Saône and Rhône. The Musée des Confluences stands here. It opened in December 2014. It quickly became Lyon’s most visited museum.
Perrache’s vision shaped this area. Lyon Confluence embodies urban ecology. The Quai Perrache stands as a reminder of Lyon’s transformation.