Industrial · Architecture

Gare des Brotteaux

Lyon

Gare des Brotteaux is a former French railway station located in Lyon’s 6th arrondissement. Opened in 1859 and named after the Brotteaux district, it first served as the terminus of the line between Geneva and Lyon. It was later connected to the line toward Paris in 1890, strengthening its role in Lyon’s railway network. Its position on the PLM axis made it an important Lyon station alongside Lyon-Perrache.

The station was restructured in 1905 with the construction of the current passenger building. It hosted the first TGV in 1981. The station was permanently closed because it was considered too small and unsuitable, in favor of the new Lyon-Part-Dieu station. Its building has been classified as a monument historique, with protection covering the façades, roofs, salle des pas perdus, and decorations.

Map showing the location of Gare des Brotteaux in Lyon
Location of Gare des Brotteaux in Lyon

Nearby Objects

History and Architectural Status of Gare des Brotteaux

Gare des Brotteaux is a former French railway station in the 6th arrondissement of Lyon. It opened in 1859 and was named after the Brotteaux district. At first, it served as the terminus of the line between Geneva and Lyon. From 1890, it was also connected to the line toward Paris, which increased its role in the Lyon railway network.

The station was restructured in 1905 with the construction of the current passenger building. Because of its position on the PLM axis, it became an important station in Lyon alongside Lyon-Perrache. In 1981, it hosted the first TGV. The station was later permanently closed because it was too small and unsuitable, in favor of the new Lyon-Part-Dieu station.

The building has been classified as a monument historique. Its protection covers all facades, roofs, the salle des pas perdus, and its decorations.

Railway Setting of Gare des Brotteaux

Gare des Brotteaux is situated at an altitude location in Lyon. It lies at kilometer point 5.770 on the line from Lyon-Perrache to Geneva, and it is positioned between Lyon-Part-Dieu and Lyon-Saint-Clair stations. The station is also located at kilometer point 507.192 on the line from Collonges - Fontaines to Lyon-Guillotiere. These references place the station within a specific rail context in the city, linking it to multiple lines and neighboring stations.

Construction and Reconstruction of Gare des Brotteaux

Gare des Brotteaux was built in 1858 by the Compagnie Paris-Lyon-Mediterranee as the terminus station of the Lyon-Geneve line. It opened the same year and was connected to Lyon-Perrache. The station was located inside the glacis of the fort des Brotteaux, at the site of the current rue Waldeck-Rousseau between rue de Seze and rue Cuvier. It was initially constructed in wood so that it could be rapidly dismantled in case of conflict.

The station was later affected by the law that decommissioned the fort des Brotteaux. After prolonged negotiations between the city and PLM, it was reconstructed slightly southeast at the fort des Brotteaux's location. Its rail line was straightened and elevated to avoid obstructing traffic. Reconstruction began in 1904 and was completed in 1908.

Closure and Replacement of Gare des Brotteaux

The old station building was destroyed in April 1908, and a new station was inaugurated on April 8, 1908. Over time, the station came to be seen as unsuitable for the future TGV Sud-Est traffic, especially because its platforms were too short to accommodate double train sets. It was therefore replaced by the Lyon-Part-Dieu station, built further south at the former freight station location and inaugurated on September 27, 1983. Gare des Brotteaux was closed to the public on the same day. After the building was decommissioned by SNCF, its canopy was dismantled in 1985. Although the station structure is no longer in use, the platforms remain visible and are still crossed daily by trains.

Current Use and Restoration

Gare des Brotteaux was restored by seven companies between 2002 and 2006. Today, the building has a mixed set of uses. At its center are the representation offices of the auction house Aguttes. The premises also include a brasserie, a shop selling religious objects, law firms, architectural firms, and an engineering consulting company. The site is served by the Brotteaux metro station, linking the building to the surrounding urban area.