She reigns at the foot of the Croix-Rousse hills like a tired diva: the Rameau Hall, a Belle Époque masterpiece in the 1st arrondissement, has been in slumber for almost ten years. And yet, her future has never been so much in the spotlight. This iconic building, once thought to be doomed to oblivion, is poised to live a second life according to information from Actu Lyon. At least, that’s what the City of Lyon and the Compagnie de Phalsbourg, the project's promoter, are promising. A rebirth awaited since 2016, which could finally materialize with a restart of the construction set for May 22. But let's take that with a grain of salt (and not just from the construction site), given the repeated delays.
An endless wait of 10 years already
Originally, the ambition was clear: to transform the Rameau Hall into a “Olympia à la lyonnaise », according to Gérard Collomb's words in 2019. A versatile performance space with between 430 and 900 seats, capable of hosting concerts, conferences, and live shows. All complemented by a rooftop under a glass dome, a food area, and a "halle de la culture" on the ground floor. But then came the health crisis, municipal elections, and soaring inflation, which all put the project on hold and left the venue forgotten.
© Perrod et Richard
Work Resumes This Thursday, May 22
We had to wait until 2022 for a 60-year emphyteutic lease to finally be signed, followed by a new amendment in 2025 that raised the rent to 2.1 million euros to get things moving again. Today, the city promises that work will resume this Thursday, May 22. Meanwhile, the opposition is growing impatient and the locals are starting to lose hope. But if promises are kept, Lyon could very well regain a cultural gem by spring 2026. Provided that this time, the jackhammers truly replace the empty announcements.
Source : Actu Lyon
