5th arrondissement of Lyon, France
The 5th arrondissement of Lyon is one of nine districts of Lyon. It includes the Fourvière hill and the historic district of Vieux Lyon. The 5th arrondissement is located on the right bank of the Saône. With the 9th, they form the western part of the city of Lyon. Geographically, it comprises three parts: a small plain along the river, from Quarantaine to Saint-Paul; a steeply sloping ledge that climbs streets, stairs and funiculars to Saint-Just and Fourvière; a plateau which extends to the limit of the municipalities of Tassin la demi-lune, Francheville and Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon. Its altitude varies from 170 m (along the Saône) to 309 m (in Saint-Irénée). Its area is 619 hectares.
Nestled around the Fourvière hill, its ancient theater and its Basilica which culminates at an altitude of nearly 300 meters, the 5th arrondissement is at the crossroads of the Presqu’île and the municipalities located to the west of the city of Lyon. Whether you live in Vieux-Lyon, Saint-Just / Saint-Irénée, Point du Jour, Champvert or Ménival, the quality of life in our neighborhoods is appreciated by everyone.
History
The history of the 5th arrondissement is the history of Lyon. The old Lugdunum comes to life on the Fourvière hill. It was at the top of the Fourvière hill that it was founded in 43 BC. AD the Roman colony of Lugdunum and that are built at the same time public monuments: forum (from which comes the name Fourvière), theater and odeon, thermal baths, aqueducts serving the city with drinking water and houses of which some vestiges are visible rue des Farges (at the same time as the thermal baths).
Roads leave the colony in the direction of the Mediterranean, the English Channel and the Rhine. Very quickly, Lugdunum became the real capital of all Gaul, its main economic, cultural and religious center. This goes hand in hand with a geographical extension towards the peninsula and the rivers, while a vast necropolis develops in the current district of Trion.
From the end of the 2nd century and throughout the 3rd century, the inhabitants begin to leave the hill and settle at its foot, along the Saône. It is here that the first cathedral and the neighboring baptistery were built in the 4th century, and that the new urban center developed, the legitimate head of which was the bishop of Lyon at the end of Antiquity. On the largely deserted hill, two churches are built, Saint-Just and Saint-Irénée, surrounded by a necropolis.
The medieval town, surrounded by a rampart, develops mainly along the Saône, around the streets of Saint-Jean and Tramassac. Even if the construction in the 11th century of the Pierre Bridge to the right of Saint-Nizier opens the city onto the peninsula, the main center of the city is to the west of the Saône, around the Saint-Jean cathedral and the churches of Saint-Etienne and Sainte-Croix.
The Renaissance marked the peak of what would later be called Vieux-Lyon. Italian merchants and bankers settled there and built beautiful houses with galleries and spiral staircases. The work of silk becomes a main activity of Saint-Georges. Trade is punctuated by the holding of Lyon fairs instituted by King Charles VII. Life will never leave this district that UNESCO has included in the Lyon World Heritage Site.
By contrast, the plateau has long been marked by the presence of agriculture: cereals, livestock, vines; market gardening with a few houses in the fields. It was in this rural setting that the Lyonnaise bourgeoisie had country houses built in the 19th century, a number of which still exist today, although they are used for another purpose. The real start of town planning took place after the Second World War, where real urbanization took place with the installation of a young and active population.
By a decree of 1 st August 1963The town of Saint-Rambert-l’Île-Barbe is attached to the 5th district, which is itself divided into two by a decree ofAug 12, 1964The northern part becoming the 9 th district.
Communities
The city of Lyon is one of three French municipalities currently divided into municipal districts (with Paris and Marseille). The law No.82-1169 of December 31, 1982 relating to the administrative organization of Paris, Lyon, Marseille and public establishments for inter-municipal cooperation, known as the PLM Law after the names of the cities concerned, is the French law which has established the particular administrative status applicable in particular to the city of Lyon. It was adopted in the context of the decentralization law (known as the Deferre Law) of March 2, 1982.
In this context, the PLM law transformed the former district town halls into structures elected at the local level. However, they are not fully-fledged town halls, and in particular do not levy taxes, but distribute the credits delegated to them by the Lyon Town Hall. However, they manage certain municipal facilities, and are consulted by the City of Lyon before certain decisions of local interest.
Historic quarters of Lyon are well known, which are all touristic sites, but behind the Vieux Lyon and Fourvière, there are the residential areas of the Point du Jour, Champvert, Ménival, Saint-Irénée which remain misunderstood but still show traces of the Roman past of the city.
Saint-Georges district
St. George is a neighborhood located in the 5th district of the city of Lyon (France) whose name is given by the patronage of the parish church. Located in the protected perimeter listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is one of the three parishes of Vieux Lyon, the historic heart of Lyon, along with those of Saint-Jean and Saint-Paul. Among its remarkable buildings we find the Saint-Georges church, numerous traboules as well as many interesting buildings, among others located on the streets Saint-Georges, du Doyenné and de la Quarantaine.
Saint-Jean district
St. John is an area of 5th arrondissement of Lyon. It is one of the three parishes of Vieux Lyon, along with those of Saint-Georges and Saint-Paul, and takes its name from its Primatiale Saint-Jean de Lyon of the Primate of Gaul, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Historic center of Lyon, within the protected perimeter listed as a World Heritage Site, an urban site category recognized with its old historic districts preserved as ” one of the most beautiful cities in the world ” , this district is with its pedestrian streets, and its important Renaissance architectural heritage (the most important in the world after Venice) the most important picturesque historical tourist district of Lyon, and one of the high places of Lyon cuisine, with its many shops, restaurants, Lyon bouchons,breweries, bistros, and bars.
Saint-Paul district
St. Paul’s is a neighborhood located in the 5th district of the city of Lyon (France) whose name is given by the patronage of the parish church. Located in the protected perimeter listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is one of the three parishes of Vieux Lyon, the historic heart of Lyon. The area is mainly served by the trolleybus C3 of transport Lyon (TCL) and the railway station of the same name.
Fourvière district
Fourvière is the hill that dominates the center of Lyon to the west on the right bank of the Saone and the central area of this hill, in the 5th district of the city. Nicknamed the “mystical mountain” by Jules Michelet, it is the oldest place of occupation of Lyon, as the founding site of the Roman city of Lugdunum on the site of an earlier Gallic sanctuary dedicated to the god Lug (Lugdunum meaning “ Lug hill ”). Today, it is often called the hill that prays, by its many religious buildings, including its basilica, and in opposition to the working hill referencing the opposite hill of La Croix-Rousse.
Saint-Just district
The district of Saint-Just (pronounced Saint-Ju) is located in the 5th district of Lyon, on the hill of Fourvière. It is named after the 13 th bishop of Lyon, St Just, the iv th century.
Saint-Irénée district
St. Irenaeus is a district of Lyon (France) in the 5th district of Lyon. It is located near the Saint-Just district and the town of Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, on the Fourvière hill. Its center is the Place Saint-Irénée, located near the Saint-Irénée Church.
Le Point-du-Jour district
The du Jour Point is a neighborhood in the city of Lyon located west of the hill of Fourvière, in the 5th district, near the town of Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon.
Champvert district
Champvert is a neighborhood located on horseback between 5th and 9 th districts of the city of Lyon.
Menival district
Ménival is is an area of 5th district of Lyon, in France. The district is mainly composed of residential residences built gradually from the end of the 1950s, and it is delimited more or less by the avenue de Ménival, the rue Joliot-Curie (central part) and the avenue du General-Dwight-Eisenhower (lower part).
Historical heritage
Discovering the 5th district means discovering stories of stones and traditions which make up the identity of our arrondissement and that of Lyon.
Town halls of the 5th arrondissement
The 5th arrondissement has the particularity of having two town halls, each with their own history.
The annexed town hall of Vieux Lyon
The history of the annexed town hall of Vieux Lyon begins in the 17th century, with the installation, on its site, of a small teaching college belonging to the Jesuits. In 1726, the college, which had become unhealthy, was completely rebuilt. To accommodate the new building, it was necessary to demolish a few surrounding houses. The works lasted 8 years, reopening only in 1734.
On March 24, 1852, the 5th arrondissement of Lyon was created following the attachment of Lyon to Croix-Rousse, Vaise and Guillotière. The town hall was then installed in the former Chapeau Rouge inn in Vaise, while the renovation work for the Petit College was completed. In 1870, she moved there. However, she is not alone in this building, sharing the second floor with the faculty of theology and justice of the peace of the 6th canton.
As for the ground floor, it was occupied by the church and its outbuildings as well as two rented apartments. The 1st floor included the municipal police station, the housing of the concierge of the theological faculty, the concierge’s room (Petit Collège) and a rental apartment, the popular library of the 5th which was installed in the terrace room. The main wing of the third floor was occupied by the justice of the peace (therefore on two levels), two lodgings for boys, the inspection of funeral convoys and the work of Mary’s work. The rest included the theological faculty (Garillan wing) and a girls’ school (crèche room). Finally, the 4th floor was occupied by the municipal school of drawing and modeling as well as a boys’ school near the Garillan. These different services gradually left the Small College, sometimes late, like the justice of the peace which only left in 1977 in the 3rd arrondissement, rue Servient.
Shortly after 1905, the town hall occupied the two levels in front of the Place du Petit College, the 1st floor being for the civil status rooms and general services; the second, for the wedding hall with waiting room, the office of the assistants and the secretariat of the elected officials. Following a project proposed in 1894, the second floor also included a school which left the premises in 1931, the date of the opening of the school group in Place St Paul. In 1977, the town hall was transferred to the Point du Jour hill, becoming an annex town hall. It still offers certain services and welcomes certain associations such as the foyer restaurant and the alumni club. It also hosts events such as the Lyon Music Festival or the Creation Market, but also teachings, faithful to its past, with the School of Applied Arts, and 3 exhibition or meeting rooms.
The main town hall
The current town hall, located at 14 rue Edmond Locard, formerly rue des massues, also has its own history. In the 16th century, the land on which it is located were simple meadows with some vineyards and houses. Its history begins in 1866, when it was built by Mr. Rey du Mouchet who also landscaped the park. It is a bourgeois house of the Napoleonic type. We can still see his initials affixed under the pediment of the building.
In 1911, it became the property of Mr. Badieu, who was then the neighbor of this property. He nicknamed it “Villa Marie” which is also called “The Castle”, evoking a luxurious residence: a beautiful staircase led to a large hall decorated with mosaics, crystals and side mirrors. To the left was the large dining room, which featured sumptuous furniture and crystal chandeliers with pendants. To the right of the entrance was a luxurious lounge. We reached the floors, by a superb staircase, where the bedrooms, the bathroom, are located. The kitchens were on the ground floor, as were the linen room and the playrooms. The park was called “Room of Shadows” where there were meadows, beehives but also silver cedars from Lebanon, rosebushes from Bengal,…. This “Château” was sold in 1924 to Mr. Pierre Collet who renamed it “Les Cyclamens”, his wife’s favorite flowers.
In 1960, the property was bought by the Fathers of the Sacred Heart (Association Beauregard). They set up their seminary and their novitiate there. New buildings are also built behind the house, today they are the buildings of the territorial civil service. Deserted by the seminarians, the place was saved in 1975 by the municipal council when a subdivision of 120 houses was planned. This purchase of 7 million francs responds to the urbanization of the Point du Jour, Ménival and Champvert districts, which in 1979 implied the transfer of the town hall from Vieux Lyon to the plateau. It is an ideal, central position for a town hall that wants to be closer to its citizens.
Thus, by deliberation, the City of Lyon decides to acquire the whole of the property on December 12, 1977 and will be effective on May 11, 1978. The future town hall then undergoes renovation works, amounting to 1,700,000 francs, to make it a “common house”. In October 1980, it was fully operational. The town hall is then equipped and meets the needs of all (disabled access, social assistance offices, deputies and elections, premises for association meetings). In 1990, a building was constructed in the park which was to be the management center of the Rhône Civil Service.
Old Lyon
Vieux Lyon is a must-see in Lyon, steeped in history and traditions. It is a vast district bordered by the Saône which stretches from St George to St Paul, passing through the famous St Jean district. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, it is full of historical elements, witnesses of ages gone by since the origins of Lugdunum. Observation is required. Many monuments will be available to you but some will remain well hidden. Here is what this wonderful district can offer, between monuments, places and curiosities you have something to discover. Obviously, Old Lyon is not confined to these few monuments and places. This list offers you only a brief overview of what we can discover in this district.
Choir school:
This 11th century building is located on Place St Jean, next to the cathedral. At the time, it was the canons’ refectory then, at the end of the 14th century, the singing school. It currently houses the museum of religious art as well as the treasure of St John’s Cathedral.
Courthouse:
It is located at Place Paul Duquaire. Recently renovated, it dates from the 19th century. It houses the Lyon appeals courts and the services of the General Council. Its facade earned it the nickname of “24 columns”.
Cathedral of St Jean and its former episcopal group:
It is a large complex led by St Jean cathedral, surrounded by the churches of St Croix and St Etienne of which only vestiges remain (next to St Jean, in the archaeological garden). Building nicknamed “Primatiale des Gaules” in 1079. It has an astronomical clock which comes alive every day at noon, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm.
St Georges Church:
The foundation of this church dates back to 547 AD. Destroyed by the Saracens, it was rebuilt in 802, it then housed a canon college. In the 16th century, it hosted the Knights of the Order of Malta but remained a parish church. It was replaced in 1844 by the current neo-Gothic church.
St Paul’s Church:
This church dates from AD 549. Built by the Bishop of Lyon, it is one of the oldest churches in Lyon (with St Jean and St Georges). In the 10th century, it was a large necropolis comprising 3 cemeteries that it shared with the Church of St Laurent. Following the wishes of Hugues I, it is completely rebuilt on a basilica plan. It then undergoes many works and renovations over the centuries. A remarkable church in particular for its stained glass windows and its sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Traboules:
The traboules are a particularity of Old Lyon, which is crossed by these passages going from one street to another, passing through wonderful interior courtyards and under the houses. A small maze which is very popular and which will make you discover the district from the inside.
Open sewer:
The rue pin located between 16 and 18 rue juiverie was an old open sewer dating from the Middle Ages where the sinks of the surrounding houses poured into it. Today, it is a passage that leads to the slopes of Fourvière.
Guignol:
Emblematic figure of Lyon, it is a puppet created in 1808 by Laurent Mourguet, characterized by a spoken Lyonnais franc, defender of social injustices. He is often found alongside Gnafron and his wife Madelon. At the time, the shows were more intended for adults, today they are intended more for children. You can see a show at the Maison de Guignol theater as well as with the Compagnie des Zonzons at the Théâtre le Guignol in Lyon. For the more curious, you can go and discover Guignol at the International Puppet Museum (Gadagne Museums) and at the Petit Musée Fantastique de Guignol.
Saint Just district
Nestled above the old Lyon district, St Just has also been a historic district since Roman times. Many of its monuments attest to this rich and varied historical past.
Basilica of Fourvière:
The basilica of Fourvière is a real marker in the Lyon landscape, enthroned on “the hill that prays”, like a guardian of the city. Its name comes from the forum of Trajan, formerly installed in its place “forum vetus”. In 1168, it was only a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. But faced with too great an influx of pilgrims, an expansion project was undertaken in 1872. It would become a basilica in 1897. Each year, on September 8, the blessing of the city took place in the presence of the Mayor. Event linked to the fulfillment of a wish of the city’s aldermen in 1643, who promised to go up to Fourvière each year if the plague, which threatened Lyon, disappeared.
The Roman theater:
This ancient theater dates from the time of Augustus around 15 BC. It is a remarkable archaeological site with, next to it, an Odeon dating from the 2nd century AD. Built against the side of the Fourvière hill, it is 90m in diameter, the steps are in a semi-circle, the orchestra is paved with polychrome marble. We can also guess its stage wall and two vaulted side aisles. Centuries later, it is still the scene of many shows, welcoming during the summer season, the Nuits de Fourvière.
The Gier aqueduct:
You can see part of this aqueduct in rue Roger Radisson. It is one of the largest of the 4 ancient aqueducts that supplied Lugdunum with water. As its name suggests, the water comes from the Gier, the river and not the source itself. Its starting point is located in the Massif du Pilat, crossing many towns in the Loire and the Rhône, totaling a length of 85 km. We can see other remains of this aqueduct throughout its old route.
The tombs of the Wernert square:
These 5 mausoleums dating from the 1st century AD were discovered near the Trion crossroads during development work. They were then moved to Place Eugène-Wernert. In Roman times, this type of tomb was reserved for people of high rank. We were able to atrribute them: the triple mausoleum brings together that of Julius Severianus, Quintus Valerius and Julia. The other two are separate and belong to Satrius and Turpio. The last, Turpio, is the best preserved and bears a dedication.
The old basilicas of St Just rue des macchabées:
The first funerary basilica of St Just was built at the end of the 4th century AD. The site is then a necropolis, its crypt will be built on a mausoleum. Originally, it was used for the veneration of the tombs of the first Christians. Its very first name comes from Jewish heroes “The stiff brethren” who died in the 2nd century BC. The current street of the site has kept their name. In the middle of the 5th century, it was enlarged. In the 6th century, it took the name of the 13th Archbishop of Lugdunum, St Just. Died in Egypt, his body is brought back to the basilica with his disciple. It will be rebuilt in the Romanesque period as well as in the Gothic period, it then housed a collegiate church. In September 1562, during the wars of religion, it was destroyed by the Protestants. Its stones are then reused for other buildings. The church will still be rebuilt, not on the same site, but a little further. Following excavations in the 1970s, only the base of the walls were found, which were no more than 50 cm high.
St Irénée Church:
The St Irénée Church was built on a Roman necropolis. In early Christian times, there was a church which housed the tombs of the martyrs of Lyon, including that of St Irénée. In the 10th century, it was replaced by a large sanctuary with a crypt dedicated to St Irénée. Like the basilica of St Just, it suffered from the wars of religion. It was ransacked but restored in 1584, its crypt in 1635. Abandoned during the French Revolution, it was used as a hay barn. In 1824, thanks to a revival for the cult of saints, it was rebuilt and its crypt was renovated in 1863, it will not move.
The funicular:
The funiculars of Lyon are installed because of the hilly city. Called the “lyonnaises ficelles”, there were five funiculars in Lyon, only three remain today: one on the slopes of Croix-Rousse (today, it is a rack line integrated into the metro C) and two on the Fourvière hill. Today, they all belong to Sytral. The string of St Just dates from 1878, it is 783 m long and has 3 stops. From 1901 to 1957, it was transformed into a rack. From its appearance, it underwent numerous works and reconstructions, the last dating from 1988. The Fourvière string is the steepest line of all the lines in Lyon. It connects St Jean to the basilica of Fourvière. It dates from 1900, 427 m long, it has 2 stops.
Cultural heritage
Lyon, city of culture is renowned for its major events. In the districts, the city’s cultural players have many opportunities to collaborate. Culture emerges from its palaces to the delight of Lyonnais who actively participate in the life of their city.
Cultural facilities
The plurality of structures participating in Lyon’s cultural life, make the metropolis a land of creation and cultural wealth. They also help create a unique identity in your borough.
The Gadagne Museums
Located in the heart of Vieux-Lyon, the Gadagne ensemble is a magnificent Renaissance building housing two major museums: the Lyon History Museum and the World Puppet Museum
Lyon History Museum
Gadagne offers Lyonnais landmarks and elements for understanding their daily environment. For those new to Lyon, the museum is a starting point for exploring the city. Based on the 80,000 objects in its collection, the Lyon History Museum presents the main factors in the city’s evolution: town planning, political and social, economic, cultural, spiritual and intellectual history.
World Puppet Museum
Since 1950, the Museum of Puppets of the World has been located in Gadagne. Built around the original Guignol puppet, the collection now has an exceptional collection of more than 2,000 pieces. Until the museum closed to the public in 2003 for major renovations, the presentation of the collection of puppets was part of the route of the Lyon History Museum. Since the reopening in June 2009, 9 rooms have been entirely devoted to them, within an autonomous museographic space.
The municipal library
The Municipal Library of Lyon is made up of a network of 16 libraries (the Part-Dieu Central Library and 14 libraries and 1 media library present in all districts of Lyon) and 3 bookmobiles serving either directly neighborhoods or communities for adults or children (residences for the elderly, social centers, PMIs, schools, nurseries, etc.). The missions of the “BML” are multiple. They range from the conservation and enhancement of a considerable written and graphic heritage (the most important in France after that of the BnF), to actions to promote books and reading in “sensitive” neighborhoods, through a strong lending activity (around 3.6 million loans per year), assistance for documentary research, education (especially for students and schoolchildren) and cultural events (exhibitions, conferences, reading or writing workshops, etc.). In direct contact with the changes in the information society, the BML also plays an important role in the appropriation of NICT by the greatest number.
The Point du Jour theater
The Théâtre du Point du Jour, a former cinema hall converted into a theater, was founded in 1969. It was managed successively by Michel Raskine and André Guittier from 1995 to 2012, then by Gwenaël Morin from 2013 to 2018. Le Point du Jour occupies a specific place in the Lyon theater ecosystem. Its capacity of 280 places makes it a workspace appreciated by companies and artists before accessing the larger stages. It contributes to the cultural influence of the City and plays an important role in the Point du Jour district. Angélique Clairand and Eric Massé, founders of the Compagnie des Lumas, were selected from around fifty artists and companies to lead the Théâtre du Point du Jour over the next three years, from July 2019.
The New Franco-Chinese Institute
History museum and center for the promotion of relations between Lyon and China, the New Franco-Chinese Institute is part of a long history of Sino-Lyon relations.
Events and festivals
The Point du Jour farm
The Point du Jour farm, a country day in the city center. The Point du Jour farm, organized by the Town Hall of the 5th arrondissement in partnership with the Artisans du Monde association, returns on the first Saturday of October in the town hall park for a festive day around local products, ‘animals and many animations. A local market is offered by about twenty exhibitors to lovers of authentic products. An educational farm lets young and old discover farm animals: sheep, rabbits, chickens, donkeys, turkeys… Various activities punctuate this rustic day imagined in the city center: refreshment bar, pony rides for children, giant coloring, accordionist, puppets…
A weekend in Saint-Just
A Weekend at Saint-Just, organized in partnership with the Nuits de Fourvière, takes place the last weekend of June. On the program for these three days of festivity: an outdoor cinema, a ball, a circus show. All audiences, open to all and free.
Nature spaces
On the natural side, your arrondissement offers you many nearby parks or gardens, the opportunity to take advantage of a green setting, whether for sport, for a family picnic or to cultivate your well-being.
The City provides its inhabitants and visitors with a multitude of spaces with very varied colors, atmospheres and dimensions.
Heights Park
The Fourvière hill serves as a display for the second large park in Lyon. As its name suggests, the heights park overlooks the city and offers a breathtaking panorama, at the foot of the Basilica of Fourvière. The park links together different spaces of peaceful beauty: from the edge of the ancient Odeon, to the Visitation garden, via the Loyasse cemetery. We take various routes and amazing climbs such as the Quatre Vents footbridge. You can venture onto the Sarra trail on foot or down it by mountain bike, thanks to a route marked out for this purpose. The Rosary Gardens provide access to the Saint-Jean and Saint-Paul districts from the Basilica, winding gently through terraces, belvederes and other esplanades. It’s up to you to admire the old roses, hydrangeas, cedars and orchards.
Rosary Garden
On the slopes of the Fourvière hill and at the foot of the Basilica, a former Stations of the Cross punctuated by Calvaries, and bordered by large trees and undergrowth, connects the terraces and leads to the orchard or to the botanical collections (old roses and hydrangeas) winding up the climb.
Montreal proximity garden
From the heights of Saint-Just, the garden located at the end of Place Abbé Larue is especially remarkable for its view of the Lyon metropolitan area. It nevertheless promises other artistic “curiosities”, with its recent transformations, in partnership with the City of Montreal: a portal, a wooded path which leads to a small bridge, engraved chairs scattered throughout the space.