- 3 rue de la République, 69001 Lyon
- What you see
- What you need to know
This strange metal console is a poignant testimony to the attention paid to the Lyon silk workers of the time.
In the years 1920 to 1925, the municipal administration of Lyon, concerned about the well-being of the porters of the silk houses, installed these consoles in strategic locations, mainly in the streets of the Terreaux district. They were intended to offer a welcome respite to the load carriers, allowing them to put down their burdens and rest briefly. These consoles are named after the young municipal councilor Elie Vignal, future mayor of Caluire-et-Cuire.
These consoles may have lacked aesthetic sophistication, but they were of capital importance in relieving the pain and fatigue of the workers. Installed especially on sloping roads such as the Montée Saint-Sébastien, they were a real relief for those who used them.
In addition to this, there are only two other Vignal consoles remaining in Lyon, located respectively on rue de la Carrière in the 9th arrondissement and montée de la Sarra in the 5th arrondissement.
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