What stories could these old stones tell? This is Rue François Genin. It is a street in Lyon with a history.
Rue François Genin starts at Place Bénedict Tessier. It ends at Rue Commandant Charcot. If you turn right, you will find a verdant avenue. It is a pleasant walk to Chemin des Fonds.
Cars can drive on Rue François Genin. This is possible from Rue Commandant Charcot to the Tourvielle crossing. The crossing is not ideal for pedestrians. The roads are wide and cars have priority.
Rue François Genin is a pretty green street. The west side begins with old two-story houses. Look for ironwork on the balconies at number 4. Notice the locksmith’s key. Next is the carpenter’s workshop. Then, there is a low restaurant building. Finally, a house stands at the corner of Rue Arnoud.
On the east side, a wall hides a school’s courtyard. Four large old houses are visible. The central two are aligned. The outer two sit in gardens with tall trees. Le clos des cèdres is a new small residence. It is built around two cedars and old gateposts. This is between Rue Soucelier and Tourvielle.
The street changes further along. It no longer crosses other streets. It only serves dead ends. Look for Domaine de Tourvielle with its timber frame. Number 30 was built in 1998. It is hidden behind a hedge and trees. Opposite are three similar four-story buildings.
After Impasse Chomel, the street runs between garden walls. Old houses have walls on the street line. Villas are set back in gardens. Some houses are beautiful. One has two stories. Another at Impasse des Mûres has different sections. Number 63 has bright blue shutters. A deep dead end goes east between two walls before number 65.
Number 67 is curious. It is an old small house. A concrete cube was added in 2008. Number 64 shows an ochre side wall without windows. Number 73 is at an angle. It reveals a small tower in the background.
The east side ends with a lower alignment. There is also a large house. A plane tree shades the bar’s customers. On the west, the parking area shows a cube on stilts. This belongs to the office building at 104 Rue Commandant Charcot. It is decorated with geometric tiles.
Also, look across Rue Commandant Charcot. You will see buildings with frescoes celebrating baking. The Salette group has a white virgin statue. Note the amazing house with a small round tower. It belongs to the Marist brothers.
François Genin was born in Lyon in 1872. His address was 58 chemin des Massues. He died in 1941. He lived at 7 rue Arnoud then. He was the deputy mayor of the fifth district. In 1897, he was an employee of the railways. He lived at 3 ancien chemin des Mûres.
Earlier, he was a coachman. He drove the route between Point du Jour and Francheville le bas. He was attacked in the Grands Murs. This is at the edge of Lyon between Rue Commandant Charcot and Grande Rue de Francheville. This might have been his father.
Another Genin was Michel. He has a name at Loyasse. He was a firefighter who died in 1865. He was fighting a fire at the clos des Chartreux.
Previously, Rue François Genin was Chemin des Mûres. It was also called Chemin de Grange Bruyère. At number 55, “les Muriers” is carved on a gate pillar.
The street was a rural path. It ran from Point du Jour to La Salette. A map from 1875 shows the north part in a straight line. Before, it opened onto Rue Arnoud. At the end of the 19th century, it already had some houses.
In 1923, the local committee set up its headquarters at number 47. The president was Camille Aimé Couttolenc. He lived in Mexico before settling here to trade in silk. In 2024, the CIL told his story in an exhibition.
Villas were added in the second half of the street after the mid-20th century. Around the Tourvielle crossroads, these are being replaced by buildings.
The Larat carpentry workshop was established in 1867.
Near La Salette is a bar with a terrace and the Ciaravino plumber. The pizzeria is in the middle. Other businesses are near Point du Jour. They include an estate agent, a travel agent, a hairdresser, and a locksmith. There is a medical analysis lab with a clock.
The restaurant Les Marionnettes uses Guignol’s image. He has swapped his stick for a rosette.