Is it a dedication to a scenic view? Rue du Panorama offers a short connection between the top of Rue de l’Oiseau Blanc and Rue de Grange Bruyère. Let’s explore this interesting street together.
Rue du Panorama was opened around 1940. It might be a selfish dedication. Perhaps residents enjoy the pretty panorama of the Lyonnais mountains from their windows. Pedestrians must go to the corner of Rue de Grange Bruyère to find it.
On the east side, you pass the garden gate of a residence on Rue du Fort Saint Irénée. Then you see the rendered side of a house with a modern gargoyle. The west side offers something to see. Four houses create a staircase effect. The first house’s garage is set back. The second rises one story. The third adds a window on the second floor. It is covered in ivy and has beautiful blue openings. The fourth reaches two stories perched on a few more steps.
Rue de l’Oiseau-Blanc is nearby. It links Rue Commandant-Charcot and Rue du Panorama. This quiet little street slopes gently. Houses line the street. It was laid out around 1940. “Oiseau Blanc” refers to the Levasseur biplane or “White Bird”. Aviators Nungesser and Coli disappeared on it. This happened on May 9, 1927 during the first attempt to cross the Atlantic. The flight was non-stop from Paris to New York. Their story remains an aviation mystery. The crash site has never been found. The most popular guess since 2015 has been Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
Lyon is full of unusual street names. Some streets pay tribute to major figures from Lyon’s history. Others have mysterious names. Rue de la Quarantaine is in Lyon’s 5th district. It runs parallel with the Saône. It links Rue Saint-Georges with Montée de Choulans. The Hôpital de la Quarantaine once stood where the Fourvière tunnel is now. It took in plague-stricken people. They were placed in isolation. This was a Medieval version of recent lockdowns.
Rue de la Gerbe is located between Cordeliers and Saint-Nizier. It connects Rue Gentil and Rue de la Poulaillerie. This clam street has a pretty little feel. It has a beautiful row of arches. Two Virgin Mary statuettes are on street corners. At number 31, stood a famous inn named ‘La Gerbe d’Or’. In 1927, a bakery opened there. It kept the name and sign. Three boys handled wheat into sheaves. One meaning of ‘gerbe’ is a sheaf of wheat.
Rue des Quatre-Chapeaux is a short street in Lyon’s Presqu’île district. It links Rue Tupin and Rue Thomassin. It has changed names on several occasions. Past names include Rue Raisin. Also, Rue de Cornemuse, Ruelle Ferrandière, Rue Grenouille. And Rue des Chapeliers, and finally, Rue des Quatre-Chapeaux. It was named after an inn. It is lined with nineteenth-century buildings. Today, it has shops, restaurants, bars and a sex-shop.
Rue des Trois-Artichauts is located on the former path of the Roman road of Narbonne. This narrow road of Lyon’s 5th district connects Debrousse to Montée Saint-Laurent. Its name means ‘Road of the Three Artichokes’. It refers to an inn. It was known for countryside cooking. It had a sign showing three artichokes. Painter Adolphe Appian lived at number 15. Some say that the remains of Lyon’s mammoth of Choulans were discovered here.
Rue du Gazomètre begins on Rue Paul-Bert. It crosses Rue des Rancy. It ends at the junction of Rue Duguesclin and Rue Villeroy. It was named after the gas works. The gasometer stored the city’s mains gas. It was used for Lyon’s public lighting.
Rue du Panorama may be short. But it offers a glimpse into Lyon’s charm. It links two streets. It also provides a potential viewpoint. It’s a quiet corner of Lyon. A place where history and daily life intersect.