Place Croix-Paquet, Square in the 1st arrondissement, Lyon, France
Place Croix-Paquet is a small square in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon, at the lower eastern edge of the Croix-Rousse hillside, where several old streets converge. It opens onto a small area shaded by trees and lined with old buildings that have shops at street level.
In 1628, a merchant named Jean Paquet had a cross erected here to replace an older one that had been destroyed during the religious wars of the 16th century. The square went through several names over time, including Place des Rameaux and Place du Séminaire, before the current name took hold.
The name of the square comes from a cross that a merchant named Jean Paquet had built in the 17th century. Visitors who explore the nearby streets can still find traboules, old covered passages that cut through buildings and open onto inner courtyards.
The square is easy to reach on foot since a metro station is nearby. Because it sits at a busy intersection, it is worth stepping into the side streets to explore the old facades and passages at a slower pace.
The nearby Croix-Paquet metro station was originally part of a funicular railway built in the late 19th century that still carries passengers up the Croix-Rousse hill today. In the 19th century, an early photographer named Camille Dolard had his studio on the square and became known for his portrait of the Curé d'Ars.
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