Could you imagine this street as chemin vicinal 83? That’s what Rue des Pépinières once was. This street in Lyon’s 5th arrondissement holds more stories than its gentle slope might suggest. Let’s explore the Rue des Pépinières.
Rue des Pépinières begins opposite 44 avenue Barthélémy Buyer. It ascends gently to the house at 47 rue Benoist Mary. Cars can only drive up the street. They enter from rue Benoist Mary.
On the west side after the small workshops at number 2 are small three-story buildings that compensate for the slope. The low house at number 12 interrupts the alignment. It reveals a block of flats in the background. On the east side numbers 1 and 3 are a large nine-story block behind a small garden with tall trees. The street concludes with number 17. This is a large beautiful three-story house with a garden on both sides. It bears the inscription “les pépinières 1900”.
The name Rue des Pépinières suggests a history tied to nurseries. As it remained a rural area for a long time, some nurseries likely lingered in local memory. The association des amis de Vaise requested that part of the Gorge de Loup bus station be dedicated to the royal nurseries. They were active for about ten years before the revolution on the avenue René Cassin site.
Rue des Pépinières already served two houses in the late 18th century. A house bears the date 1900 suggesting the construction period for the small buildings. The large block has a 1960s style.
Today Rue des Pépinières is mainly residential. However the cooperative des apiculteurs de la région de Lyon has its premises at number 2.
If you want to reach Rue des Pépinières by public transport, several options are available. Bus lines 55, 90, C20 and C21 stop nearby. The nearest bus stop Les Pépinières is a one-minute walk away. For the metro, line D is an option. The nearest funicular station Saint-Just is a nine-minute walk. The nearest train station Gare De Lyon – Gorge De Loup is a 23-minute walk away.
As you stand here on Rue des Pépinières picture the street in different eras. Imagine horse-drawn carts instead of buses. Think of the nurseries that once defined its character. The street has transformed over time. It retains a unique charm that connects its past with the present.