Rue André

Could a street be a misunderstanding? Rue André in Lyon might just be. At first glance, you might mistake it for a simple alley branching off Rue Rossan. A hidden portal on Rue Saint Maximin reveals its true entrance. Rue André ends near the intersection of Rue Rossan and Rue Guilloud. A gate often bars the way, giving glimpses of a pathway between walls, reclaimed by nature. The name itself, Rue André, is a puzzle. Some believe it may be a fragmented reference to André de Rossant. Yet, the street also pays homage to many notable figures named André. Lucien André, a Lyonnais student, died in battle on June 8, 1915. His name graces the Golden Book of Lyonnais students. Charles André, an astronomer, came to Lyon to teach at the university. He founded and directed the Lyon Observatory in Saint Genis Laval until his death in 1912. Even a century later, his legacy remains tangible. You can still look through the telescope he installed. Eugène André, born in 1878, was a shoemaker and a prominent figure in Lyon’s mutual aid societies. He served as national vice president until his death in 1960, and the Trarieux clinic once bore his name. The street might also honor Andrée Goiran, born Goullioud in 1902. She learned to cook with the renowned Mère Brazier at Col de la Luère. Later, she earned two Michelin stars for her restaurant, Le Molière, on Place Lyautey. Gustave André, born in 1908 in Chabeuil, distinguished himself in the Resistance. He was a member of the BCRA and a transmissions inspector. Arrested on July 8, 1944, in Place Bellecour, he was tortured at Montluc prison and executed in Limonest on August 29, 1944. He is buried at La Doua, and the website of the Companions of the Liberation tells his story. A plaque at 3 Quai Jean Moulin commemorates a Lieutenant André, who fell in combat on August 24, 1944, fighting for liberation. Francis André, known by the less favorable moniker “Gueule Tordue,” was born in Lyon in 1909 and executed in 1946 at Fort de la Duchère. He was a member of the militia that aided the Gestapo, responsible for torture and 120 murders. Finally, the MJC at 100 Rue Boileau is named after Simone André. She dedicated herself to community organizing from 1965. She even founded the Forum of Associations and the French Institute of the Associative World. Born in Lyon in 1926, she died there in 2024. Lyon People detailed her involvement with the municipal, metropolitan, and departmental councils. So, as you stand on Rue André, remember, it’s more than a street. It’s a tribute to the diverse lives and legacies woven into the fabric of Lyon.