Rue Marius Berliet

From the bustling Rue des Frères Lumière, a street unfolds, bearing the name of an automotive giant: Rue Marius Berliet. This street, once a section of the old route to Heyrieux, pulsates with the echoes of Lyon’s industrial past. Rue Marius Berliet stretches eastward, concluding at Place du 11 Novembre, beside the Bachut Media Library. The street’s character transforms as you travel along it. Initially, it’s a wide avenue mirroring the railway line. It then takes a diagonal path, passing the imposing Hôtel de Police. Rue Marius Berliet even absorbs Rue de l’Epargne along its journey. Marius Berliet, the man whose name graces this street, was a titan of the trucking industry, leaving an indelible mark on Lyon and the world. One of his factories, a significant landmark, stood at the intersection of Rue de l’Epargne and Rue Audibert et Lavirotte, right here on Rue Marius Berliet. A former Berliet gate still stands on Rue Audibert et Lavirotte, a silent sentinel of the past. Another Berliet factory, the Monplaisir factory, operated from 1902 to 1989. In 1913, this factory, employing 3,150 workers, produced a staggering 4,000 vehicles. During the First World War, its output surged to 40 trucks daily, vital to the war effort. The current RVI factories in Vénissieux, carrying on Berliet’s legacy, lie further along Rue Marius Berliet’s path. Berliet’s story began modestly. Born in Lyon in 1866, he built his first car in 1895. His maiden voyage, a test run on Grande Cote, ended abruptly when his car crashed into a butcher’s shop window. His Villa, located on Avenue Esquirol, now serves as a museum. It’s a testament to Berliet’s automotive achievements, showcasing his creations alongside those of RVI and 140 other regional automakers, all under the watchful eye of the Berliet Foundation. Rue Marius Berliet, more than just a street, stands as a testament to a man and an industry that shaped Lyon.