A curious porch with columns stands at number 14 Rue Croix-Barret. This unassuming street in Lyon holds a fascinating history. Rue Croix-Barret connects Rue de Gerland in the seventh arrondissement to Route de Vienne in the eighth. It’s a journey through time.
The street’s name itself tells a story. On March 15 1818 Louis Barret had a cross erected by Antoni Prima. This Croix Barret was restored in 1883. A plaque commemorates Louis Lucien Castillon’s work. Today the cross sits on a concrete plaque at the corner of Route de Vienne. Eugène Barret another member of the family died in World War I.
The Rue Croix-Barret wasn’t always a street as we know it. Before the modern era a path connected Route de Vienne and the Gerland road. This older path passed near the Château du Vivier a historical landmark long gone. The arrival of the railway in the mid-19th century transformed the area. Large workshops needed a bridge over the tracks and that’s where you see this impressive metal structure dating from 1929.
The area was and still is largely industrial. The army and the railway company have always dominated the landscape. You can see the railway lines and workshops from the bridge. The SNCF maintains its TGV maintenance center here.
Near Rue de Gerland there is more industry. In 2018 some businesses closed to make way for newer developments. A homeless shelter now occupies this site. There are also four garages.
Despite the industrial feel the area has a surprising residential feel. Small houses line the street. Two nine-story towers stand out. A basketball court and the Wangari Maathai school stand near Route de Vienne. The school opened in 2023. It’s a tribute to a Kenyan environmentalist who won a Nobel Peace Prize. Rows of flowering trees line the northern sidewalk.
From industrial past to modern amenities Rue Croix-Barret is full of surprises. It silently reflects Lyon’s evolution a blend of industry history and community life. Its unique character is a testament to Lyon’s multifaceted past and present.