Rue Juiverie and Philibert Delorme Gallery
Why is it significant?
Step into the narrow canyon of Rue Juiverie, one of the most intellectually vibrant and architecturally sophisticated corridors of Renaissance Lyon.
Key Facts
| Place | Rue Juiverie and Philibert Delorme Gallery |
|---|---|
| Address | Rue Juiverie 8, 69005 Lyon, France |
| Geo Coordinates | 45.76580, 4.82760 |
| Part of Walk | Fourvière and Vieux Lyon: Roman Lugdunum, Hilltop Basilica, and Renaissance Traboules |
| Generated | Generated |
Step into the narrow canyon of Rue Juiverie, one of the most intellectually vibrant and architecturally sophisticated corridors of Renaissance Lyon. Named for the Jewish merchants who lived here under royal protection during the Middle Ages, the street became in the sixteenth century the favored residential quarter of wealthy magistrates, royal printers, and humanists. Push open the heavy wooden door at number 8 to discover the celebrated Philibert Delorme Gallery hidden within the quiet rear courtyard. Designed in 1536 by the Lyon-born architectural prodigy Philibert Delorme upon his return from studying classical antiquity in Rome, this ingenious elevated stone footbridge connected two separate residential wings of merchant Antoine Bullioud's townhouse. Supported by two massive squinches resembling inverted stone conch shells, the gallery features three open classical pavilions supported by fluted Ionic columns, combining effortless structural daring with Italian classical harmony. The subtle play of light and shadow across the carved limestone reveals the very moment French classical architecture was born on the banks of the Saône, breaking free from medieval Gothic traditions to embrace antique symmetry and humanist elegance across every sculpted stone surface.
Examine the stone squinches supporting the gallery: Delorme engineered these stereotomic trompes without any visible ground pillars, solving a tight courtyard space problem while showcasing his revolutionary mastery of stone vaulting techniques.
Philibert Delorme's breathtaking success with this private gallery launched his glittering career: King Henry II of France subsequently appointed him royal architect to design the Tuileries Palace and the Château d'Anet.
Across the street at number 4 stands the Maison d'Antoine de Gondi, where the wealthy Florentine banking family who helped finance Catherine de' Medici's royal court once resided in opulent splendor.
Continue north to the end of the street to conclude your journey at Place Saint-Paul.