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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The hotel of Cuzieu, located at 30 rue Sainte-Hélène in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon, is a mansion built in the 3rd quarter of the 18th century. It is representative of the Lyon architecture of that time. Archaeological excavations revealed an occupation of the site from the 1st century AD, with antique residential and commercial buildings. The current building, registered with the Historic Monuments in 1982, was rehabilitated in the 21st century by the agency Wilmotte & Associés, preserving its stamp while adapting to contemporary uses.

In the 19th century, the Hotel de Cuzieu was famous for having belonged to Nicolas Yemeniz (1783-1871), a Greek industrialist based in Lyon to open a silkhouse. Married to Adelaide Rubichon (1802-1860), from a Dauphinese monarchist family, in 1830 the couple opened a literary and political salon with legitimistic inspiration. This salon, one of the brightest in Lyon, welcomes figures like Lamartine and Mérimée until the death of Adelaide in 1860.

After the dispersal of the Yemeniz collection in 1867, the hotel knew various uses and owners. Its recent rehabilitation has kept its protected elements, such as the facades, the large wrought iron staircase, and the decorated lounges on the ground floor and first floor. Today, it mixes houses, offices and wellness spaces, while remaining a testimony to the history of Lyon.

The elements protected by the 1982 inscription include facades, roofs, the entrance gate, the large staircase with its wrought iron ramp, as well as several rooms with their original décor. These spaces, such as the large living room, the alcove room, and the dining room on the first floor, reflect the period's fascist and the cultural importance of the place.

The hotel in Cuzieu is also linked to Lyon's industrial history, notably through Nicolas Yemeniz, whose activity in silk is part of the city's textile tradition. His salon, hosted by Adélaïde Yemeniz, marked Lyon intellectual life, attracting leading political and literary figures from the 19th century.

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