Hidden within Lyon’s urban sprawl lies a colossal remnant of its industrial past: the Rhodiaceta Giant Gear. This isn’t just any gear. It’s a symbolic monument to the Rhodiaceta company, a textile giant that once dominated this area. Rhodiaceta, a name derived from “Rhodanus” (the Rhône River) and “seta” (silk), began its story in 1922. The company’s Lyon factory opened in the Vaise district in 1928. By 1955, the Rhodiaceta factory in Vaise employed a staggering 7,500 people. The company produced artificial silk (rayon) and later became a major nylon producer in Europe, even holding a monopoly on polyester fiber production in France for a period. Rhodiaceta expanded its operations, acquiring a factory in Besançon in 1952 and even establishing subsidiaries in Italy and Brazil. Interestingly, during World War II, the Rhodiaceta factory was the only large factory in the Vaise district spared from Allied bombing. This giant gear we stand before served as a vital component in the factory’s machinery, a testament to the scale of production that once hummed within these now-silent walls. While the company thrived for decades, financial difficulties eventually led to its closure in 1981. This gear stands as a tribute to the thousands of workers who dedicated their lives to Rhodiaceta, their contributions shaping the very fabric of Lyon’s industrial history. The giant gear is more than a memorial, it whispers stories of innovation, growth, and the ever-turning wheels of industry.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to