Rue Cléberg

Slipping through time, let’s journey back to 43 BC. Here on Fourvière Hill, overlooking the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, the Roman colony of Lugdunum was born. Today, we stand on Rue Cléberg, a street nestled near the very heart of this ancient city. Rue Cléberg is close to the Lugdunum Museum, a modern marvel built directly into the hillside. This museum houses a treasure trove of Roman artifacts unearthed from this very ground. Imagine, beneath our feet, lie remnants of a bustling Roman capital. Lugdunum was a strategically crucial city, positioned on the vital Rhône-Saône axis that connected the Mediterranean to the inner provinces. This location facilitated trade and communication throughout the vast Roman Empire. The Lugdunum Museum, just a stone’s throw from Rue Cléberg, holds a remarkable bronze tablet, the Claudian Table. This tablet reproduces a speech given by Emperor Claudius, himself born in Lugdunum in 10 BC. In this speech, Claudius argued for Gallic participation in the Roman Senate, a pivotal moment in the history of Gaul. The museum, a testament to modern architectural ingenuity, seamlessly blends into the landscape, allowing the ancient theaters to become part of the exhibition itself. The museum at 17 rue Cléberg, a place where past and present intertwine. As we stroll along Rue Cléberg, we’re walking in the footsteps of Roman citizens, soldiers, merchants, and perhaps even Emperor Claudius himself. The echoes of their lives resonate through the artifacts housed in the nearby museum. Rue Cléberg offers a quiet reflection on a vibrant past, a hidden gem near the heart of ancient Lugdunum.