Passage de l'Argue
Encyclopedia
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 French Province, built on the same model as the Parisian ones of which it is contemporary. Very rich and famous in Lyon, it plays a significant role in the trade of the Presqu'île
. There is also the Petit Passage de l'Argue, which is open on this hall.
refers to the wire drawing machine for gold and silver bullions used for weaving. To prevent counterfeiting, there were two offices of silver, one in Paris, another in Lyon, located in the rue de la Monnaie, near the Passage de l'Argue.
The passage was already mentioned on the city map made in 1740 by Claude Séraucourt, but was then an unhealthy narrow street composed of fifteen workshops of weaving. There was also a monetary workshop which was abolished in the late 18th century, but restored by the French Directory
in 1798. The old houses were bought and demolished by M. Coste, Casati, Dugueyt, and Millon to do rebuilt the passage in 1825 by architect Fargue and opened three years later. In 1834, the Republicans were hidden in the passage and this latter was completely ransacked: broken windows, destroyed stores and looted goods... In November 1840, the passage was completely flooded after heavy rains.
Although it was uncommon at the time, gas lighting
was brought very quickly: indeed, in October 1828, Delorme requested the installation of a gasometer
in the passage and the gas used to illuminate was prepared in the workshop located in the rue Tupin-Rompu. Moreover, the lighting and maintenance of the paving stone of the passage was generously provided by the city of Lyon. The auction sale was prohibited in the hall by an order of 1828.
The passage housed many notable buildings. There was the Atelier de l'Argue, which was removed in the late sixteenth century and restored by a decree on 15 May 1798; it was finally traded to the rue de la Savoie thereafter. On 2 March 1828, civil and military authorities participated in the inauguration of the Café-Théâtre owned by Seguin. This theater had a circular room, two Corinthian
and Ionic
columns with two rich entablatures, and rich and elegant ceiling, chandelier and ornaments. However, despite a large attendance, the theater closed due to bankruptcy. In 1836, a renowned restaurant, headed by Caillot, then in 1960, the Théâtre des Bouffes Lyonnaises, were opened. In 1862, Louis Josserand and his wife Gabrielle Avocat opened a theater of Guignol
and, in 1899, this puppet gave shows in the Petit Passage de l'Argue, near the hall.
Among famous people who lived in this passage, there were painters Julian Gubian (1834) and Perignon (1840).
with uniform closures. The northern part was composed of two high airy floors, and the southern part had only one floor until the rotunda. As for the entrance, it was formed by an arc whose archivolt
is supported by Doric
columns.
This hall represents a particular style of architecture in Lyon and resembles that of Italian galleries in Rome or Milan. Although cut in two parts by the Rue Édouard-Herriot under the Second Empire, this passage retains its decorative and constructive authenticity.
The four façades are decorated and the passage is covered by glass walls. In the interior, there are lanterns and shop signs are made of rounded metal the shops frames are in wood.
The hall is composed of shops of all types in which mainly luxury items, including watches, pipes or bags, can be bought.
On the central rotunda, four small statues of the Roman god protector of merchants and travelers Mercury
with winged feet, based on an Italian work of Renaissance
style, were successively erected, but not exactly at the same place. The statue was first stolen in 1902, notably removed during the Second World War, stolen again three days after its inauguration in April 1995, and eventually reinstalled in October 1996. The third copie of the statue was the work of Giambologna.
Hall
In architecture, a hall is fundamentally a relatively large space enclosed by a roof and walls. In the Iron Age, a mead hall was such a simple building and was the residence of a lord and his retainers...
located in the Bellecour quarter, in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon
2nd arrondissement of Lyon
The 2nd arrondissement of Lyon is one of the nine arrondissements of the City of Lyon.-History:The first five arrondissements of Lyon were created by the Decree of March 24, 1852, which included the 2nd arrondissement.The current mayor is Denis Broliquier....
, which connects the rue de la République
Rue de la République
Rue de la République is a street located in the 1st and 2nd arrondissements of Lyon. This is the main shopping street of the city. This zone is served by the metro stations Bellecour, Hôtel de Ville - Louis Pradel and Cordeliers...
to the rue Édouard-Herriot
Rue Édouard-Herriot
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 and the Place des Terreaux . Its northern part is located in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon, but the main part of the street is in...
and the rue de Brest
Rue de Brest
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...
. This is one of the oldest arcades in French Province, built on the same model as the Parisian ones of which it is contemporary. Very rich and famous in Lyon, it plays a significant role in the trade of the Presqu'île
Presqu'ile (Lyon)
The Presqu’île, literally the "peninsula", extending from the foot of the Croix Rousse hill to the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône rivers, is in the city centre of Lyon, France. It has a preponderance of cafés, restaurants, luxury shops, department stores, banks, government buildings, and...
. There is also the Petit Passage de l'Argue, which is open on this hall.
History
The word "argue" (from Greek arguros which means "silver" in English)refers to the wire drawing machine for gold and silver bullions used for weaving. To prevent counterfeiting, there were two offices of silver, one in Paris, another in Lyon, located in the rue de la Monnaie, near the Passage de l'Argue.
The passage was already mentioned on the city map made in 1740 by Claude Séraucourt, but was then an unhealthy narrow street composed of fifteen workshops of weaving. There was also a monetary workshop which was abolished in the late 18th century, but restored by the French Directory
French Directory
The Directory was a body of five Directors that held executive power in France following the Convention and preceding the Consulate...
in 1798. The old houses were bought and demolished by M. Coste, Casati, Dugueyt, and Millon to do rebuilt the passage in 1825 by architect Fargue and opened three years later. In 1834, the Republicans were hidden in the passage and this latter was completely ransacked: broken windows, destroyed stores and looted goods... In November 1840, the passage was completely flooded after heavy rains.
Although it was uncommon at the time, gas lighting
Gas lighting
Gas lighting is production of artificial light from combustion of a gaseous fuel, including hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, propane, butane, acetylene, ethylene, or natural gas. Before electricity became sufficiently widespread and economical to allow for general public use, gas was the most...
was brought very quickly: indeed, in October 1828, Delorme requested the installation of a gasometer
Gasometer
A gas holder is a large container where natural gas or town gas is stored near atmospheric pressure at ambient temperatures. The volume of the container follows the quantity of stored gas, with pressure coming from the weight of a movable cap...
in the passage and the gas used to illuminate was prepared in the workshop located in the rue Tupin-Rompu. Moreover, the lighting and maintenance of the paving stone of the passage was generously provided by the city of Lyon. The auction sale was prohibited in the hall by an order of 1828.
The passage housed many notable buildings. There was the Atelier de l'Argue, which was removed in the late sixteenth century and restored by a decree on 15 May 1798; it was finally traded to the rue de la Savoie thereafter. On 2 March 1828, civil and military authorities participated in the inauguration of the Café-Théâtre owned by Seguin. This theater had a circular room, two Corinthian
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
and Ionic
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
columns with two rich entablatures, and rich and elegant ceiling, chandelier and ornaments. However, despite a large attendance, the theater closed due to bankruptcy. In 1836, a renowned restaurant, headed by Caillot, then in 1960, the Théâtre des Bouffes Lyonnaises, were opened. In 1862, Louis Josserand and his wife Gabrielle Avocat opened a theater of Guignol
Guignol
Guignol is the main character in a French puppet show which has come to bear his name.Although often thought of as children's entertainment, Guignol's sharp wit and linguistic verve have always been appreciated by adults as well, as shown by the motto of a prominent Lyon troupe: "Guignol amuses...
and, in 1899, this puppet gave shows in the Petit Passage de l'Argue, near the hall.
Among famous people who lived in this passage, there were painters Julian Gubian (1834) and Perignon (1840).
Architecture and monuments
In 1836, the passage had 96 archesArch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
with uniform closures. The northern part was composed of two high airy floors, and the southern part had only one floor until the rotunda. As for the entrance, it was formed by an arc whose archivolt
Archivolt
An archivolt is an ornamental molding or band following the curve on the underside of an arch. It is composed of bands of ornamental moldings surrounding an arched opening, corresponding to the architrave in the case of a rectangular opening...
is supported by Doric
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
columns.
This hall represents a particular style of architecture in Lyon and resembles that of Italian galleries in Rome or Milan. Although cut in two parts by the Rue Édouard-Herriot under the Second Empire, this passage retains its decorative and constructive authenticity.
The four façades are decorated and the passage is covered by glass walls. In the interior, there are lanterns and shop signs are made of rounded metal the shops frames are in wood.
The hall is composed of shops of all types in which mainly luxury items, including watches, pipes or bags, can be bought.
On the central rotunda, four small statues of the Roman god protector of merchants and travelers Mercury
Mercury (mythology)
Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
with winged feet, based on an Italian work of Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
style, were successively erected, but not exactly at the same place. The statue was first stolen in 1902, notably removed during the Second World War, stolen again three days after its inauguration in April 1995, and eventually reinstalled in October 1996. The third copie of the statue was the work of Giambologna.
Reception
The passage became very luxuous throughout years and achieved notability. Due to its architecture, it was immediately welcomed as proved by the fact that, according to some sources, the two-thirds of its stores were already rented before its opening. Many laudatory statements were made about it; for example, it was described as "a place of refuge, walk for winter evenings and rainy days, and an embellissement as well as a convenience for the entire population of the city"; it was considered as a "regeneration" for the quarter, and has the same "charm" as the Parisian passages.See also
- 2nd arrondissement of Lyon2nd arrondissement of LyonThe 2nd arrondissement of Lyon is one of the nine arrondissements of the City of Lyon.-History:The first five arrondissements of Lyon were created by the Decree of March 24, 1852, which included the 2nd arrondissement.The current mayor is Denis Broliquier....
- TrabouleTrabouleTraboules are a type of passageway primarily associated with the city of Lyon, France, but also located in the French cities of Villefranche-sur-Saône, Mâcon, Saint-Étienne, along with a few in Chambéry)...