Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Rosa Mir Garden is a unique space of 400 m2 located in the 4th arrondissement of Lyon, in the heart of the Croix-Rousse. Created between 1958 and 1983 by Jules Senis, a Spanish refugee mason, he is dedicated to his mother, Rosa Mir Mercader, as well as to the Virgin Mary. This garden, classified as a historical monument in 1987, is distinguished by its structures decorated with shells and stones, evoking the work of Antoni Gaudí or that of the Cheval factor, but with a more vegetal and mineral dimension.

The project is born of a wish formulated by Jules Senis after a remission of his cancer. For twenty-five years, he patiently shaped this garden in the inner courtyard of the 83 Grande-Rue de la Croix-Rousse, accessible by the Viard impasse. The whole, although modest in area, offers a total change of scenery thanks to its columns, ties and altars decorated with thousands of shells, alternating with stones and plantations.

After the death of Jules Senis in 1983, the Association of Friends of the Garden Rosa Mir was founded to preserve the site. However, the garden deteriorated over time, leading the city of Lyon, the owner of the premises, to close it in 2013 for renovation work. It finally reopens to the public on June 25, 2016, restored to regain part of its original brilliance.

The Spanish inspiration of Jules Senis, originally from Catalonia, is reflected in the organic forms and motifs of the garden. Visitors perceive a work halfway between naïve art and fantastic architecture, where the mineral and plant blend harmoniously. Despite its small size, the garden has become a symbol of Lyon's heritage, demonstrating the creativity and resilience of an ordinary man.

The classification of historic monuments in 1987 underscores its heritage value. Today, the Rosa Mir Garden remains a popular place to visit, accessible from the metro stations Hénon and Croix-Rousse. Its history, linked to that of the Croix-Rousse and its inhabitants, makes it an intimate and universal monument.

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