Insolite-Tours

Rue des Trois-Maries is a narrow, cobbled, pedestrian street in the 5ᵉ arrondissement of Lyon (Le Vieux Lyon), running between the place de la Baleine and the rue du Palais-de-Justice. 

The street dates back to the Middle Ages, while most of the existing buildings — including the noteworthy doorways — reflect a Renaissance-era urban fabric. 

This relief sculpture sits on the façade of the building that gave the street its name. Historically, the presence of this sculptural group is why the street became known as “Rue des Trois-Maries.”

The figures are the Three Marys ❤️ from Christian tradition:

• Marie Jacobé
• Marie Salomé
• Marie-Madeleine (Mary Magdalene)

Here’s what makes this piece so intriguing:

✨Renaissance style, but worn by time

• The carving shows Renaissance drapery and composition, even though erosion has softened many details.
• The faces are now weathered away — this isn’t unusual in Lyon: centuries of humidity (the Rhône and the Saône are not far!) and soot wore these façades down.

Original purpose

• It served as a religious marker and as a form of protection over the doorway.
• It also acted as a visual signpost for identifying the house before street numbers existed.

A rare survival

• Many façade devotional sculptures in Lyon disappeared over the centuries.
• This one is prized because it stayed in its original location, unlike others that were removed or lost.

Locals often walk past without realizing that this niche is literally the origin of the street’s name.

Now you (kinda) 😊 know the street !

I’ll explain who those amazing ladies are in another post !

This is part of the Vieux Lyon tour I propose. For more information : insolitetours@hotmail.com