Crédit Lyonnais headquarters, Historic bank headquarters in 2nd arrondissement, France
Crédit Lyonnais headquarters is a bank building in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris that occupies an entire block between Boulevard des Italiens, Rue de Gramont, Rue du Quatre-Septembre, and Rue de Choiseul. The structure underwent reconstruction after a 1996 fire and now contains modern office spaces, with the historic section named Hotel des Italiens and other areas called Centorial.
William Bouwens van der Boijen designed the original structure in 1876, with expansions by André-Félix Narjoux in 1905 and Victor Laloux continuing until 1912. These building phases reflected the institution's growing importance as a leading French financial house.
The building features a double spiral staircase inspired by Château de Chambord, with separate flights for management and employees that reflected the social hierarchy of the period. This design choice was typical of major French institutions at the time.
The site is best explored on foot and spans an entire city block, so you can walk around to see the different facades from various angles. The surrounding streets have cafés and shops where you can pause and observe the architectural details at your leisure.
The structure incorporates a metal frame partially produced by Gustave Eiffel's workshops, hidden beneath the stone cladding that defines its exterior. This connection to one of France's most celebrated engineering firms often goes unnoticed by visitors.
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