The condition of the Silks

La Condition des Soies, an industrial establishment in the heart of Lyon, is of significant importance in the history of silk, an emblematic industry of the region. Built between 1804 and 1814, this building located at 7 rue Saint-Polycarpe, in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon, on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse, played a crucial role in the trade of the precious silk thread.

Listed as a historical monument since 1980, the Condition des Soies bears witness to the glorious past of the silk industry in Lyon. Originally established on Place Saint-Pierre, this establishment was transferred to its current location in 1814. Under the impetus of Napoleon I and the directors of the Fabrique, the city entrusted the construction of this building to the Lyon architect Joseph-Jean-Pascal Gay.

The main task of the Condition des Soies was to establish the dry weight of silk in order to guarantee a specific moisture content, thus ensuring fairness in the trade of the precious thread. This operation, called desiccation of the product, was crucial because of the significant variation in the total weight of the silk depending on its moisture content.

Over time, this establishment evolved to meet the growing needs of the silk industry. In 1885, the Lyon Chamber of Commerce created the Silk Studies Laboratory, located on the second floor of the Condition des Soies. This laboratory was dedicated to the study of the silk-producing silkworm, as well as to the improvement of spinning and weaving techniques.

Today, the Condition des Soies has been redeveloped to house the municipal library of the 1st arrondissement, the veterans' association and the Quartier Vitalité Social Center. This place full of history remains a symbol of the silk industry and the ingenuity of the Lyonnais in the textile field. By visiting this building, you will delve into the fascinating past of Lyon and discover the importance of silk in the economic and cultural development of the region.