Squares

Rue des Capucins

Lyon

Rue des Capucins is a street in the quartier des pentes de la Croix-Rousse in Lyon, France. It is rectilinear and slightly inclined, continuing rue du Sergent-Blandan between place des Capucins and place Croix-Paquet. The street runs parallel to rue René-Leynaud and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage area. Its layout occupies approximately the location of the former rue Vannerot. The eastern part is attested on the plan scénographique de Lyon around 1550 under the name rue de Vanneret, and the street was first dedicated to Jean Vannerot before changing its name in 1850. The western part of the current street was opened on a former garden site belonging to monks in the mid- century. Today, rue des Capucins contains many shops and stores, as well as a municipal police station, an LGBT association, the café-theatre Le Complexe du Rire, and a Church of Scientology center on the square. The buildings bordering the street are described as simple and without embellishments.

Map showing the location of Rue des Capucins in Lyon
Location of Rue des Capucins in Lyon

Nearby Objects

Rue des Capucins

Rue des Capucins is a street in the quartier des pentes de la Croix-Rousse in Lyon, France. It is rectilinear and slightly inclined, giving it a straightforward but gently sloping alignment within the hillside district. The street continues the rue du Sergent-Blandan, opens at place des Capucins, and ends at place Croix-Paquet. It runs parallel to rue Rene-Leynaud, placing it within a dense network of streets on the slopes of Croix-Rousse. Rue des Capucins is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage area, which adds to its urban and heritage significance.

Historical Development of Rue des Capucins

Rue des Capucins occupies approximately the location of the former rue Vannerot. Its eastern part is attested on the plan scenographique de Lyon around 1550 under the name rue de Vanneret, and the street was first dedicated to Jean Vannerot. The name changed in 1850, after the street had been called Grande rue neuve des Capucins in 1810.

The western part of the current street was opened on the former garden site belonging to monks in the mid century. A small area called place des Capucins was also opened in the same general development. The street is closely linked to the Capucins du Petit Forez, whose monastery was built in 1622 at the current location of number 6. Their church, the chapel Saint Andre, stood at the foot of the montee de la Grande Cote. The Capucins' house was later bought and rebuilt by the banker Andre Coste. Another building associated with the site was dedicated by Jean de Nuchese, and Anne d'Autriche attended the start of its construction. The Capucins were expelled from the street during the French Revolution, marking a major interruption in the religious presence that had shaped the area.

Buildings and Uses Along Rue des Capucins

Rue des Capucins is lined with many shops and stores, alongside several public and associative uses. The street includes a municipal police station, an LGBT association, a cafe-theatre called Le Complexe du Rire, and a Church of Scientology center on the square. The buildings bordering the street are described as simple and without embellishments. They include a row of old houses with four to five floors, marked by sober facades, beautiful doors, and, in some cases, arches.