Passage de l'Argue
Passage de l'Argue
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| Location | 2nd arrondissement of Lyon, Lyon, France |
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| Postal code | 69002 |
| Coordinates | 45°45′40″N 4°50′05″E / 45.761144°N 4.834762°E |
| Construction | |
| Construction start | 1825 |
| Inauguration | 1828 |
The Passage de l'Argue is a covered hall located in the Bellecour quarter, in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon, which connects the rue de la République to the rue Édouard-Herriot and the rue de Brest. This is one of the oldest arcades in the French provinces, built on the same model as the Parisian ones of which it is contemporary. Famous and of wealthy repute in Lyon, it plays a significant role in the trade of the Presqu'île. There is also the Petit Passage de l'Argue, which formed a part of the main Passage de l'Argue before the Rue de Brest intersected it. To access it, one need only cross the road.
The word "argue" (from Greek arguros which means "silver" in English) refers to the wire drawing machine for gold and silver bullions used for weaving. To prevent counterfeiting, there were two offices of silver, one in Paris, another in Lyon, located in the rue de la Monnaie, near the Passage de l'Argue.
The passage was already mentioned on the city map made in 1740 by Claude Séraucourt, but was then an unhealthy narrow street composed of fifteen workshops of weaving. There was also a monetary workshop which was abolished in the late 18th century, but restored by the French Directory in 1798. The old houses were bought and demolished by M. Coste, Casati, Dugueyt, and Millon to do rebuilt the passage in 1825 by architect Fargue and opened three years later. In 1834, the Republicans were hidden in the passage and this latter was completely ransacked: broken windows, destroyed stores and looted goods... In November 1840, the passage was completely flooded after heavy rains.
Although it was uncommon at the time, gas lighting was brought very quickly: indeed, in October 1828, Delorme requested the installation of a gasometer in the passage and the gas used to illuminate was prepared in the workshop located in the rue Tupin-Rompu. Moreover, the lighting and maintenance of the paving stone of the passage was generously provided by the city of Lyon. The auction sale was prohibited in the hall by an order of 1828.
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