- 31 Pl. Bellecour, 69002 Lyon, France
- What you see
- What you need to know
The building tells a fascinating story, marked by periods of artistic glory, destruction during tumultuous episodes in history, and transformations linked to the urban evolution of Lyon.
- At 18th century, The building was owned by the Noyel de Bereins family, lords of Sermézy.
- In 1789, Marc-Antoine, from this family, married Clémence Sophie Daudignac, a student of Chinard. At that time, the building became the site of a salon run by Clémence, frequented by notable figures such as Juliette Récamier, Ballanche, and Révoil. She also used the space as a studio.
- In 1815, During the second Bourbon Restoration, the building was devastated, and the workshop was completely destroyed by French soldiers. This event marked a turning point in its history, and it is likely that the current decor dates from the Restoration period.
- In 1956, The Catholic faculties acquired the building.
- In the 1970s, Major changes took place with the demolition of the annex buildings for the construction of the ISARA building and a semi-underground parking lot, supervised by the architect Charles Curtelin. Among the demolished buildings was the Berrier and Milliet restaurant, whose decor, created by sculptors Marcel Renard and Alfred Janniot, dates from the 1920s, under the direction of architect Michel Roux-Spitz. This restaurant succeeded the café-ice cream parlor established shortly before 1870 by café owner Monnier and closed permanently in 1962.
- Archive images
- Good to know
The Renier et Milliet Restaurant was widely recognized for its culinary excellence, and it occupied a prominent place in the city's gastronomic landscape. For many generations, the Milliet Restaurant was the preferred venue for celebrating weddings, birthdays, as well as hosting banquets for select companies and receptions for Lyon's great families.
- Architecture
The building has 12 bays and 4 levels. On the ground floor, the main entrance is simple, with a rectangular opening framed in stone. To the left are four rectangular doors, while to the right, a large rectangular opening has been replaced by a glazed window. The rear elevation is understated, with eight bays, two in the center corresponding to the stairwell openings.
The facade follows a regular pattern with windows of varying sizes on the floors. The staircase, to the right of the vehicle passage, was originally adorned with fluted pilasters, which disappeared during the renovations of the 1970s. The staircase has three straight flights and two landings, lit by basket-handle arched windows.
The first-floor landing is notable for its side doors set within a concave quarter-circle, while the central double door faces a convex projection from the landing. Within the first-floor apartment, three rooms feature Restoration-style decor, including painted wood paneling, bas-relief medallions, and a Neoclassical fireplace detailed with animal and human motifs.
