Place Antonin-Poncet

Last updated July 23, 2019

The Place Antonin-Poncet is a square located in the Bellecour quarter, near the Place Bellecour, in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon, France. It is served by the metro station Bellecour of the lines A and D, and by many buses (10-12-14-15-29-30-35-53-58-88-99). The square belongs to the zone classified as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

La Place Bellecour is a large square in the centre of Lyon, France, to the north of the Ainay district. Measuring 312 m by 200 m, it is one of the largest open squares in Europe, and the third biggest square in France, behind the Place des Quinconces in Bordeaux (126,000 m²) and the Place de la Concorde in Paris (86,400 m²). It is also the largest pedestrian square in Europe: vehicles are allowed in Places de la Concorde and des Quinconces.

2nd arrondissement of Lyon French municipal arrondissement in Rhône-Alpes, France

The 2nd arrondissement of Lyon is one of the nine arrondissements of the City of Lyon.

A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area which is selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance, and is legally protected by international treaties. The sites are judged important to the collective interests of humanity.

Location and description

The square is in the Presqu'île, between Place Bellecour and the Rhône. The rue des Marronniers, a small pedestrian street famous for its many bouchons, can be reached from the square. It has also stairs leading down to the river of the Rhône.

The Rhône is one of the major rivers of Europe and has twice the average discharge of the Loire, rising in the Rhône Glacier in the Swiss Alps at the far eastern end of the Swiss canton of Valais, passing through Lake Geneva and running through southeastern France. At Arles, near its mouth on the Mediterranean Sea, the river divides into two branches, known as the Great Rhône and the Little Rhône. The resulting delta constitutes the Camargue region.

The Rue des Marronniers is a street located in the Bellecour quarter, in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon. It is a small paved pedestrian street famous for its many bouchons. It is served by the metro station Bellecour and many buses. The street belongs to a zone classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

A bouchon is a type of restaurant found in Lyon, France, that serves traditional Lyonnaise cuisine, such as sausages, "salade lyonnaise" duck pâté or roast pork. The speciality is "Quenelles de Brochet"(Pike Quenelles) with Nantua Sauce. Compared to other forms of French cooking such as nouvelle cuisine, the dishes are quite fatty and heavily oriented around meat. There are approximately twenty officially certified traditional bouchons, but a larger number of establishments describe themselves using the term.

The square was designed by landscaper Michel Bourne in 1990.^[1]

The square has a rectangular form from east to west. To the south, it is bordered by the post hotel with an architecture composed of long horizontal lines, which replaced in 1938 the Hôpital de la Charité, was designed under the supervision of architect Michel Roux Spitz between 1935 and 1938,^[2] in an almost identical style to the classical 18th century facades of the north of the square. The building is adorned with a 250-m² wall painting by Louis Bouquet which evokes the "worldwide influence of Lyon through the exchange and waves". Around its entrances, there are bas-reliefs sculpted by Georges Salendre, JH Bardey and Renard.^[3] In the north, the buildings, made by JF Desarnod, have Lyon-styled facades and a ground floor composed of trades. The western part of the square, elevated (50 cm) in 1980, is bordered with rows of lime trees to the north and south and is the location of many events. There are lawns, fountains and benches.^[4]

Louis Bouquet was a French artist and illustrator.

A lawn is an area of soil-covered land planted with grasses and other durable plants such as clover which are maintained at a short height with a lawnmower and used for aesthetic and recreational purposes. Lawns are usually composed only of grass species, subject to weed and pest control, maintained in a green color, and are regularly mowed to ensure an acceptable length. Lawns are used around houses, apartments, commercial buildings and offices. Many city parks also have large lawn areas. In recreational contexts, the specialised names turf, pitch, field or green may be used, depending on the sport and the continent.

The vegetation is mainly composed of horse chestnuts, maples and magnolias.^[1]

Acer is a genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maple. The genus is placed in the family Sapindaceae. There are approximately 128 species, most of which are native to Asia, with a number also appearing in Europe, northern Africa, and North America. Only one species, Acer laurinum, extends to the Southern Hemisphere. The type species of the genus is the sycamore maple, Acer pseudoplatanus, the most common maple species in Europe. The maples have easily recognizable palmate leaves and distinctive winged fruits. The closest relatives of the maples are the horse chestnuts.

Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol.

At the end of the square, next to the river, there is a giant bunch of flowers, that is a work of contemporary art created by Korean Jeong-Hwa Choi, entitled The Flower Tree.^[1]

Contemporary art art of the present time beginning with Pop Art and Conceptual Art

Contemporary art is the art of today, produced in the second half of the 20th century or in the 21st century. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a dynamic combination of materials, methods, concepts, and subjects that continue the challenging of boundaries that was already well underway in the 20th century. Diverse and eclectic, contemporary art as a whole is distinguished by the very lack of a uniform, organising principle, ideology, or "-ism". Contemporary art is part of a cultural dialogue that concerns larger contextual frameworks such as personal and cultural identity, family, community, and nationality.

History and monuments

In 1816, a triumphal arch was erected on the square, Princess Caroline of Naples and Sicily went down it and listened to a welcome speech by the Lyon mayor. In 1858, the offices of Le Salut Public were located at No. 18. Among famous inhabitants of the square, there were the king's commissioner Pierre-Thomas Rambaud (1792) and the king's court adviser Devienne (1834).^[5]

On the Place Antonin-Poncet, there is the bell tower of the old Hôpital de la Charité. The hospital, designed in 1622 by the Jesuit architect Étienne Martellange, was destroyed in 1934. The bell tower, built in 1665-66 by J. Abraham,^[4] was the sole monument retained. At the time, it was the second largest hospital in Lyon after the Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon and was more of a hospice than a hospital.^[3]

The square is named after the doctor Antonin Poncet (1849, Lyon - 1913),^[6] who did not work at the Hôpital de la Charité, but at the Hôtel-Dieu. Before the deliberation of the municipal council on 29 December 1913, the square was called Place de la Charité.^[7]

During the period of the collaborationist Vichy regime, Number 7 was a hotbed of resistance activities. Gynecologist Dr. Jean Rousset aided British agent Virginia Hall in a number of ways. He used an insane asylum on the top floor to hide Allied pilots. On 7 November 1942, Rousset was arrested by the Germans and tortured but survived the war. ^[8]

On the square, a monument composed of two steel plates of two meters high is a tribute to victims of Armenian genocide,^[4] and was inaugurated on 24 April 2006.^[3]

Major events

Every winter, a 60-metre Ferris wheel is installed. But since 2006, due to major work on the square, the wheel is located a few metres further, on the Place Bellecour.

Civic initiative

The Amis de la place Antonin Poncet ("Friends of the Antonin Poncet plaza") non for profit organization was created on January 8, 2016.

Its mission is to promote the heritage and beauty of the plaza in order to preserve this exceptional public space, which serves as a unique doorway to the city of Lyon and as a symbol of the "Art of Living" in Lyon.

The organization carries out its mission in a helpful and friendly manner in order to protect, maintain, and keep the plaza attractive. Les Amis de la place Antonin Poncet collaborates with all public authorities.

The organization brings together a group of citizens, including residents, firms, businesses, and professionals who live on or near the plaza, as well as all of those who love the plaza, a place that is part of Lyon's identity as a city.

Related Research Articles

Rue Victor-Hugo is a pedestrian street in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon, in the Ainay district of the Presqu'île quarter, reputed to be one of the most known shopping area of Lyon. From north to south, it connects the Place Bellecour to the Place Carnot. Beyond the Place Bellecour, the rue de la République is its natural extension, thus creating one of the biggest pedestrian streets in Europe. The street is served by metro stations Perrache, Bellecour and Ampère - Victor Hugo. It belongs to the zone classified as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Place des Célestins is a square located in the Célestins quarter, in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon. The square was named after the religious of the Order of the Celestines which were installed from 1407 to 1778. This zone is served by the metro station Bellecour. It belongs to the zone classified as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Passage de l'Argue is a covered hall located in the Bellecour quarter, in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon, which connects the rue de la République to the rue Édouard-Herriot and the rue de Brest. This is one of the oldest arcades in the French provinces, built on the same model as the Parisian ones of which it is contemporary. Famous and of wealthy repute in Lyon, it plays a significant role in the trade of the Presqu'île. There is also the Petit Passage de l'Argue, which formed a part of the main Passage de l'Argue before the Rue de Brest intersected it. To access it, one need only cross the road.

The Place de la République is a square located in the Bellecour quarter, in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon. It belongs to the zone classified as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

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The Cours Charlemagne is a large central street located in the Perrache quarter, in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon. This street is dedicated to Charlemagne, who came several times to Lyon. In addition, the bishop Leidrade represented the emperor in the city and by his great work of reconstruction. The Cours Charlemagne begins Place des Archives, just at the south of the vaults of the interchange of Perrache. It ends on the Quai Perrache, which overlooks the Pont Pasteur.

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The Rue de Brest is a street located in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon. This is one of the main shopping and tourist streets of the city center, parallel to the rue Édouard-Herriot. It begins in the wake of the rue Paul Chenavard and ends with the Place des Jacobins.

The Rue Édouard-Herriot is one of the most important shopping streets of the Presqu'île in Lyon. It links the two most famous places of the city, the Place Bellecour (south) and the Place des Terreaux (north). Its northern part is located in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon, but the main part of the street is in the 2nd arrondissement. In its southern part, the street passes through the Place des Jacobins. It belongs to the zone classified as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

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The Rue Duguesclin is a long street in Lyon crossing directly wholly the 6th and the 3rd arrondissement, and ends in the 7th arrondissement. This 2,800-meter street starts at the Boulevard des Belges and ends on the rue Rachais. The Lyon inhabitants and the telephone directory usually write the street name in a sole word (Duguesclin) and the cartographers do it in two words.

The rue Sainte-Catherine is a very old street at the foot of the slopes of La Croix-Rousse quarter, in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon. It is particularly known for being a drinking street. The street belongs to the zone classified as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

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The Boulevard des Belges is a wide and posh avenue located in Les Brotteaux quarter, in the 6th arrondissement of Lyon. It begins with the Quai de Grande Bretagne, runs along the southern part of the Parc de la Tête d'Or until the Avenue Verguin and ends on the Place Jules Ferry, in front of the Gare des Brotteaux. The boulevard is lined with plane trees and is served by two velo'v stations and the line B of the metro.

The Place Benoît-Crépu is a stone-paved square, located in Saint-Georges quarter, on the banks of the Saône, in the 5th arrondissement of Lyon. It has fountains with dolphin heads, many benches and trees and a playground. The place belongs to the area classified as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Rue Tronchet is a street located in the 6th arrondissement of Lyon, named after French jurist François Denis Tronchet (1726–1804).

The Rue Émile-Zola is a street located in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon, near Place Bellecour. This is one of the busiest shopping streets of Lyon, which was described as a "bourgeois" street because there are many upscale shops. It begins with the Place des Jacobins and ends at the Place Bellecour after crossing the rue des Archers, and belongs to the zone classified as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was named as tribute to the writer of the same name.

References

1 2 3 Eberhard, Pierrick (2010). Lyon et ses parcs et jardins — Grand Lyon, département du Rhône (in French). Lyon: Éditions Lyonnaises d'Art et d'Histoire. p. 23. ISBN 978-2-84147-218-5.
↑ Brun De La Valette, Robert (1969). Lyon et ses rues (in French). Paris: Le Fleuve. pp. 209–210.
1 2 3 "Place Antonin-Poncet" (in French). Rues de Lyon. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
1 2 3 Pelletier, Jean; Delfante, Charles (2009). Places de Lyon — Portraits d'une ville (in French). Lyon: Stéphane Bachès. p. 80. ISBN 978-2-915266-64-1.
↑ Meynard, Louis (1932). Dictionnaire des lyonnaiseries — Les hommes. Le sol. Les rues. Histoires et légendes (in French). 3 (1982 ed.). Lyon: Jean Honoré. pp. 64–67.
↑ Pelletier, Jean (1986). Lyon pas à pas — son histoire à travers ses rues — Presqu'île, rive gauche du Rhône, quais et ponts du Rhône (in French). Roanne / Le Coteau: Horvath. pp. 59–60. ISBN 2-7171-0453-4.
↑ Vanario, Maurice (2002). Rues de Lyon à travers les siècles (in French). Lyon: ELAH. p. 233. ISBN 2-84147-126-8.
↑ Purnell, Sonia (April 9, 2019). A Woman of No Importance (Kindle ed.). Viking. p. 55.

Coordinates: 45°45′23″N4°50′05″E / 45.756313°N 4.834741°E / 45.756313; 4.834741

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[Eberhard-1] 1 2 3 Eberhard, Pierrick (2010). Lyon et ses parcs et jardins — Grand Lyon, département du Rhône (in French). Lyon: Éditions Lyonnaises d'Art et d'Histoire. p. 23. ISBN 978-2-84147-218-5.

[2] Brun De La Valette, Robert (1969). Lyon et ses rues (in French). Paris: Le Fleuve. pp. 209–210.

[Rues-3] 1 2 3 "Place Antonin-Poncet" (in French). Rues de Lyon. Retrieved 23 May 2010.

[Delfante-4] 1 2 3 Pelletier, Jean; Delfante, Charles (2009). Places de Lyon — Portraits d'une ville (in French). Lyon: Stéphane Bachès. p. 80. ISBN 978-2-915266-64-1.

[5] Meynard, Louis (1932). Dictionnaire des lyonnaiseries — Les hommes. Le sol. Les rues. Histoires et légendes (in French). 3 (1982 ed.). Lyon: Jean Honoré. pp. 64–67.

[6] Pelletier, Jean (1986). Lyon pas à pas — son histoire à travers ses rues — Presqu'île, rive gauche du Rhône, quais et ponts du Rhône (in French). Roanne / Le Coteau: Horvath. pp. 59–60. ISBN 2-7171-0453-4.

[7] Vanario, Maurice (2002). Rues de Lyon à travers les siècles (in French). Lyon: ELAH. p. 233. ISBN 2-84147-126-8.

[8] Purnell, Sonia (April 9, 2019). A Woman of No Importance (Kindle ed.). Viking. p. 55.

v t e 2nd arrondissement of Lyon
Quarters	Les Cordeliers Bellecour Les Célestins La Confluence Ainay Perrache Sainte-Blandine
Streets	Cours Charlemagne Passage de l'Argue Rue Édouard-Herriot Rue Émile-Zola Rue de Brest Rue de la Bourse Rue de la Poulaillerie Rue de la République Rue des Archers Rue des Marronniers Rue Mercière Rue Victor-Hugo
Squares	Place Ampère Place Antonin-Poncet Place Bellecour Place Carnot Place de la République Place des Célestins Place des Jacobins
Places of worship	Basilique Saint-Martin d'Ainay Chapelle de la Trinité Église Saint-Bonaventure Église Saint-Nizier Grande synagogue de Lyon
Other monuments	Brasserie Georges Catholic University of Lyon Collège-lycée Ampère Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon La Sucrière Musée de l'Imprimerie Musée des Confluences Palais de la Bourse Patinoire Charlemagne Prison Saint-Paul Théâtre des Célestins
Transport	Gare de Lyon-Perrache Lyon Metro Line A Lyon Metro Line D Vélo'v