Lost provinces speak volumes from here. This is Rue de Lorraine. It is a street steeped in history and symbolism. It is located in Lyon’s 1st arrondissement.
Rue de Lorraine serves as a poignant reminder of a painful chapter in French history. The street owes its name to Alsace-Lorraine. These were provinces lost in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. The loss was a deep wound to the French national psyche.
Originally, this street bore different names reflecting Lyon’s evolving urban landscape. In the early 1750s, during Jacques-Germain Soufflot’s reshaping of the area, it was known as Rue du Séminaire. This name came from the grand seminary. The seminary stood where the Croix-Paquet gardens are now. Sadly, the seminary was destroyed in the 19th century.
Historian Louis Maynard noted the street was once called Rue des Deux-Angles. This name was visible on an 18th-century engraving. The engraving was on a wall near Place Croix-Paquet in 1922. Historian Maurice Vanario confirms this name existed. However, the origin of the name remains unknown.
For a time, it was named Rue Victor-Arnaud. Or more precisely, Rue Baptiste-Marie-Victor-Arnaud. Victor Arnaud was a deputy mayor of Lyon. He was also an administrator of civil hospices.
In 1871, the street was named Rue d’Alsace. This decision acknowledged the loss of Alsace and Lorraine. However, only Alsace was recognized in the street’s name at that time.
Finally, the street received its current name, Rue d’Alsace-Lorraine. This happened through a decision by the Lyon municipal council. This name reflects the dual loss of Alsace and Lorraine.
Today, the street is easily accessible. You can reach it via the Croix-Paquet metro station on line C. As you walk along Rue de Lorraine, notice the buildings. The east side features 18th-century buildings. The west side has the Michel-Servet schools and the Croix-Paquet metro station.
Rue de Lorraine stretches north to south. It connects the western end of Rue de Provence. It meets Place Michel-Servet in the north. It ends at the intersection of Rue Roger-Violi, Grande rue des Feuillants, and Place Croix-Paquet in the south. The numbering starts at 1 in the north. It ends at 21 in the south.
As you stand here on Rue de Lorraine, remember its history. Remember the lost provinces of Alsace-Lorraine. The street is a permanent tribute to French resilience. It is also a symbol of hope for future reconciliation.