Rue des Verriers

Did glassblowers once roam this very street? Welcome to Rue des Verriers, a small, slightly bent street tucked away in Lyon’s 7th arrondissement. Rue des Verriers translates to “Glassmakers Street.” Its name hints at a time when glassmaking workshops likely dotted the area. The street begins at Rue Victor Lagrange, across from the old railway depot, and stretches southward to meet Rue Lortet. Imagine Lyon in the mid-19th century. This area, including Rue des Verriers, was just starting to be developed. By 1894, the street officially became part of the city. Several glass companies operated in this district, between Rue des Verriers and Boulevard Farge. Among them were the Verreries du Rhône (Rhone Glassworks), later known as Verreries de la Gare et Targe. This company gained fame with its store on Rue de Marseille. Another glass company, Jayet, left its mark on the area with a street named in its honor. Even further back in Lyon’s glassmaking history, there are whispers of Lagier and Charançcais, glassmakers operating in La Guillotière in 1731. Rue des Verriers itself is narrow. Its slight bend occurs where it intersects with Rue Galland. On the east side, you would have seen an older building standing shoulder to shoulder with a newer one. The overhanging corner of the newer building provided a small shelter at the corner of Rue Galland. On the west side, there was a row of three older structures, possibly houses or workshops. Behind them stood the wall of an activity park, slightly set back, with a gate opening onto a wide courtyard leading to Boulevard Farge. By 2019, the first plot on this side had been cleared, revealing remnants of older walls, and a new building provided passage to Rue Caton. Further down Rue des Verriers, you’d find a line of unassuming old houses. They are only one or two stories high on the east side. The last house in this row, larger than the others, was separated from them by the courtyard of the house at number 9. On the west side were two older houses. Then a small courtyard with a business nestled at the back, overlooked by a newly constructed six-story building set back from the street. Today, you can still find a restaurant and two businesses on Rue des Verriers. Although the clang of glassmaking tools has faded, the street whispers echoes of Lyon’s industrial past. The very name, Rue des Verriers, reminds us of the artisans who once shaped molten glass into everyday objects and contributed to Lyon’s rich heritage.