Place du Change, Pedestrian square in Vieux Lyon, Lyon, France
Place du Change is a small pedestrian square in the heart of Vieux Lyon, in the 5th arrondissement. It is flanked by old stone buildings, including the Maison Thomassin, one of the oldest houses in the city, and the Église du Change on one side of the square.
The square appears in written records from the late 15th century, when it served as a meeting point for merchants and money changers, many of them Italian traders who had settled in the neighborhood. It was enlarged in the 16th century to accommodate the growing number of people doing business there.
The square holds the Église du Change, a Protestant church whose building was originally used for currency trading in the 17th century. Its facade carries a quote from the Roman philosopher Seneca linking virtue and money, which reflects the commercial spirit that once shaped this space.
The square is fully pedestrianized and easy to reach on foot from the nearby Rue Saint-Jean or from other streets in Vieux Lyon. Visiting in the morning or late afternoon tends to be more comfortable, as the area can get crowded during midday in the warmer months.
The Maison Thomassin, at number 2 on the square, dates back to the late 13th century and carries on its walls the coats of arms of the Dauphin of France and Anne of Brittany. These royal connections are easy to miss but give the building a history that goes well beyond local trade.
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