Manufacture des tabacs de Lyon | Former Tobacco Factory and University Campus

The Manufacture des tabacs de Lyon is a former tobacco factory in Lyon, now rehabilitated as a university campus and owned by the university Jean-Moulin-Lyon-III. The site is listed among buildings labeled Architecture contemporaine remarquable, a label that succeeded the monuments label in 2016. Its history is linked to the former military defense site known as La Lunette des Hirondelles, begun in 1832. After its defense role, the military site became a military equipment factory before being abandoned following a fire and a lack of maintenance. Traces of this military heritage remain on the present university site.

The tobacco factory occupied a site of about 8,000 square metres, which was too small for the increasing demands of production. Tobacco transformation was then a state monopoly, and the main activities included Gauloises and tobacco scaferlati. Goods were shipped using the nearby railway. Production ceased in 1987, and the last tobacco boxes left that year. The city of Lyon acquired the site in July 1990 for university use, as part of the project "L'université dans la ville." Work began in 1992, the campus opened for the 1993 university year, and redevelopment was completed in 2004.

Map showing the location of Manufacture des tabacs de Lyon in Lyon — Location of **Manufacture des tabacs de Lyon** in Lyon

Nearby Objects

From Tobacco Factory to University Campus

The Manufacture des tabacs de Lyon is an old tobacco factory located in Lyon. It has been rehabilitated as a campus and is now the property of the University Jean-Moulin-Lyon-III. The building is also listed among those labeled Architecture contemporaine remarquable, or ACR. This label succeeded the monuments label in 2016, placing the factory within a recognized category of notable contemporary architecture.

From Military Site to Tobacco Manufacture

The Manufacture des tabacs de Lyon was built on the former military defense site known as La Lunette des Hirondelles. Construction of this military work began in 1832, and after its defensive role, the site became a military equipment factory. It was later abandoned because of a fire and a lack of maintenance. Traces of this military past are still present on the current university site, including a building called La Lunette des Hirondelles at the corner of avenue des Freres Lumiere and rue Professeur Rollet, which served as housing for technicians.

The tobacco site occupied an area of about 8000 square meters, a surface described as too small to meet increasing production demands. At the time, tobacco processing was a state monopoly. The main activities were the production of Gauloises and tobacco scaferlati. Workers finished shifts at 12 h and 17 h, and merchandise was shipped using the nearby railway. Directors included Andre Viard from 1928 to 1938, Adrien Mondiez until 1957, Roger Paquet until 1966, and Jean Ricadat. Andre Girard served as administrative services director and later inspector from 1946 to 1974.

Tobacco production ended in 1987, and the last tobacco boxes left that same year. The closure freed the site for other users and activities.

University Reuse of the Former Tobacco Factory

The Communaute urbaine de Lyon planned to place university sites in the city center under the project L'universite dans la ville. In July 1990, the city of Lyon acquired the Manufacture des tabacs site for university Jean-Moulin-Lyon-III. More than 8000 square meters were usable, with capacity for approximately 10000 people. Work began in 1992, and the building opened for the 1993 university year, although redevelopment works were not completed until 2004.

The site kept its original industrial name, Manufacture des Tabacs, and now hosts some students of university Jean-Moulin-Lyon-III. The university's other campus is on quai Claude Bernard in the 7th arrondissement of Lyon. A contemporary university library was also built inside the site, with specialized books spread across four floors in fields including history, geography, economics, languages, philosophy, law, and political science.

Art sur le campus

Art sur le campus includes two sculptures by Josef Ciesla installed in the courtyards of La Manufacture des Tabacs. The project reintegrated the site into the Fete des Lumieres program in 2022, 2023, and 2024. It also uses projects designed by students in the professional license Conception et Management en Eclairage at iaelyon. Each edition of the Fete des Lumieres program involves partners.