Imagine a dog. Not just any dog but Balthazar the beloved pet of the Richard Vitton family. It is said that Rue Balthazar got its name from this very dog. Let’s uncover the story behind this street in Lyon.
Rue Balthazar is nestled in the Grange Blanche neighborhood. It sits between Rue des Professeurs Rochaix and Rue Florence. Traffic flows westward here from Rue Florence toward Rue Rochaix.
The naming of Rue Balthazar remains a bit of a legend. The Richard Vitton family owned land in this area. They supposedly gave some of it to the city. As a thank you the street may have been named after their dog Balthazar. However, the family’s influence seems to stop at Avenue Lacassagne. This makes the dog story a charming maybe. The street signs spell the name Balthazard.
The area around Rue Balthazar started taking shape in the early 20th century. Large factories such as Berliet and Edouard Herriot Hospital spurred development. Smaller streets like Rue Balthazar emerged. They were carved out of large bourgeois properties established in the previous century. Rue Balthazar appears on a map from 1907. The south side was built later around the 1920s or 1930s. In 2021, the southeast corner of Rue Florence was cleared.
Architecturally, Rue Balthazar features a mix. Old buildings from the mid-20th century line the street. One is currently undergoing renovations. You will also spot individual houses and a new building. Several beautiful trees add greenery to the street.
Today, Rue Balthazar is mainly residential. It also serves a medical purpose fitting the area. You will find a midwife and a dental prosthesis laboratory here.
While the story of Balthazar the dog is likely just a legend it adds a certain charm to Rue Balthazar. It is a reminder of the families who helped shape this area of Lyon. So, as you stroll down Rue Balthazar think of the loyal dog. Also consider the evolution of this neighborhood from farmland to factories to the residential street we see today.