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Origin and history

The Hôtel de préfecture du Rhône, located in the 3rd arrondissement of Lyon, was built to replace the former prefecture of the Place des Jacobins, considered too small. In 1879 the general council of the Rhône opted for a land belonging to the civilian hospices, between the districts of Brotteaux and Guillotière. The architect Antonin Louvier led the works from 1883 to 1890, at a cost of 4.5 million francs. The building, inaugurated on 18 August 1890, embodies the administrative ambition of the Third Republic.

The monument was marked by a tragic event: President Sadi Carnot died there on 25 June 1894, following an attack on the day before by the anarchist Sante Caserio. This drama is part of a period of political tension in France. Since 1981, several interior elements (scaling, living rooms, council hall) and exterior elements (facades, roofs) have been protected as historical monuments, highlighting the heritage value of the building.

Although the Rhône department was redesigned in 2015 with the creation of the Lyon metropolis, the prefecture retains its central role. It still houses the departmental council, despite its location outside the new territorial boundaries of the "New Rhone". This particular status reflects contemporary administrative complexities, while perpetuating the 19th century legacy.

Protected areas include iconic rooms such as the Carnot Lounge (formerly the Yellow Lounge), the presidential bedroom or the large double-revolution staircase. These elements, with their original decoration, bear witness to the republican fascist and the exceptional craftsmanship of the period. The official address, 29 courses of Liberty, makes it a major urban landmark in the Lyon landscape.

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