Rue Rhin et Danube

Along the banks of the Saône, Rue Rhin et Danube whispers tales of wartime heroism. This unassuming street in Lyon’s 9th arrondissement isn’t named for the famous European rivers. It honors the First Army, instrumental in liberating Lyon on September 3, 1944. This army, known as the “Armée Rhin et Danube”, continued its fight, pushing through France and engaging in battles at Karlsruhe on the Rhine and Ulm on the Danube. The street stands as a tribute to their bravery, solidified by their leader, de Lattre de Tassigny, signing Germany’s surrender. Rue Rhin et Danube has a more recent, local history as well. Before its modern incarnation, it was known as Rue du Nord-de-la-Gare. It served the Vaise water station, bustling with industrial activity and travelers arriving from Chalon. The area transformed drastically in 1967. The basin was filled to make way for Stade Joseph Boucaud. This stadium, nestled alongside Rue Rhin et Danube, was originally a “ghorre” field, a local term for a sandy, ochre material, later upgraded with synthetic turf. A poignant reminder of the area’s past lingered until 2005. A former grain storehouse became a temporary home for North African workers starting in 1968. This building, one of the last remnants of port activity, hosted the “chibanis” exhibition in 2005 before being renovated in 2009. Today, Rue Rhin et Danube showcases a blend of old and new. The Credit Mutuel’s regional headquarters, with its distinctive vertical concrete stripes, connects via a glass and iron structure to a renovated stone warehouse, a nod to the area’s industrial heritage. The street also houses modern office buildings, some featuring striking rows of porthole-like windows. Rue Rhin et Danube is more than just a street. It’s a living testament to Lyon’s layered past, from bustling port activity to wartime liberation, culminating in the modern cityscape we see today.