Place des Célestins
Encyclopedia
The Place des Célestins is a square located in the Célestins quarter, in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon
. The square was named after the religious of the Order of the Celestines
which were installed from 1407 to 1778. This zone is served by the metro station Bellecour. It belongs to the zone classified as World Heritage Site
by UNESCO.
, who had a command post.
After the Knights Templar's eviction, the Célestins installed a monastery which, despite some fires, remained for almost 400 years. Eventually demolished in 1778, it was replaced with the housing estate of the Célestins and a theater. In the second half of the 19th century, the plan of major architectural creations through Presqu'île
provided for a track linking the rue Mercière and the Place Bellecour
to the Place des Célestins. This project was finally cancelled. The square was redeveloped in 1994-1995 when an underground parking lot
was digged. On the square, a kind of refracting telescope
provides a kaleidoscope
view of the car park.
The square has almost the same appearance since the eighteenth century.
, and inaugurated in 1877, then in 2005.
45.759791°N 4.831837°E
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....
. The square was named after the religious of the Order of the Celestines
Celestines
Celestines are a Roman Catholic monastic order, a branch of the Benedictines, founded in 1244. At the foundation of the new rule, they were called Hermits of St Damiano, or Moronites , and did not assume the appellation of Celestines until after the election of their founder to the Papacy as...
which were installed from 1407 to 1778. This zone is served by the metro station Bellecour. It belongs to the zone classified as World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
by UNESCO.
History
Before 1307, the square was located on the lands owned by the Knights TemplarKnights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
, who had a command post.
After the Knights Templar's eviction, the Célestins installed a monastery which, despite some fires, remained for almost 400 years. Eventually demolished in 1778, it was replaced with the housing estate of the Célestins and a theater. In the second half of the 19th century, the plan of major architectural creations through 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...
provided for a track linking the rue Mercière and the Place Bellecour
Place Bellecour
The Place Bellecour is a large town square in Lyon, France, to the north of the Ainay district. Measuring 312 m by 200 m , it is the largest clear square in Europe, and the third biggest square of France, behind the place des Quinconces in Bordeaux et the place de la...
to the Place des Célestins. This project was finally cancelled. The square was redeveloped in 1994-1995 when an underground parking lot
Parking lot
A parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
was digged. On the square, a kind of refracting telescope
Refracting telescope
A refracting or refractor telescope is a type of optical telescope that uses a lens as its objective to form an image . The refracting telescope design was originally used in spy glasses and astronomical telescopes but is also used for long focus camera lenses...
provides a kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope
A kaleidoscope is a circle of mirrors containing loose, colored objects such as beads or pebbles and bits of glass. As the viewer looks into one end, light entering the other end creates a colorful pattern, due to the reflection off the mirrors...
view of the car park.
The square has almost the same appearance since the eighteenth century.
Notable buildings
The most notable monument of the square is the Théâtre des Célestins, made by Gaspard AndréGaspard André
Gaspard André was a French architect, best known as the designer of the Theater of the Place des Célestins, the Fountain of the Place des Jacobins and the Grand Temple de Lyon in Lyon, the city hall of Neuilly-sur-Seine and the Palace of Rumine in Lausanne.-References:*Aynard, Édouard , , Lyon :...
, and inaugurated in 1877, then in 2005.
External links
45.759791°N 4.831837°E