Place Ambroise Courtois, Square in the 8th arrondissement of Lyon, France
Place Ambroise-Courtois is a rectangular square in the Monplaisir neighborhood of Lyon's 8th arrondissement. It is lined with plane trees, has a small bandstand at its center, and lamp posts topped with four lanterns give it a recognizable look.
The square was called Place de Monplaisir until 1944, when it was renamed after Ambroise Courtois, a local politician who held several government offices in Lyon. The renaming took place shortly after the city was liberated at the end of World War II.
The square holds a monument honoring the Lumière brothers, who invented cinema in this very neighborhood. On certain days, food markets, an organic market, and a second-hand book market bring a steady flow of locals and visitors to the space.
The square is easy to reach on foot and sits right next to a metro station that bears its name. Those wanting to visit the markets should come in the morning, as most of them run during morning hours.
On the north side of the square, a large semicircular arch is shaped to resemble a cinema screen, a nod to the Lumière legacy in the neighborhood. Just below it, steps lead directly down to the metro station, making the link between the square's history and everyday city life unusually visible.
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