[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

Histoire de Paris

L’hôtel du Crédit Lyonnais

Le 11 décembre 1875, le Crédit Lyonnais acquiert par adjudication l’hôtel de Boufflers. Henri Germain, son président, décide de donner un aspect monumental au nouveau siège social. Les travaux durent de juin 1876 à 1913, mais l’agence ouvre dès le 23 mars 1878. L’architecte William Bouwens van der Boijen dirige la constructionjusqu’en 1904, ensuite Victor Laloux et André-Félix Narjoux édifient la façade de la rue du Quatre-Septembre. Les Etablissements Gustave Eiffel, puis Moisant, exécutent la charpente métallique intérieure. Camille Lefèvre, Henri Lombard, Edouard Pépin, Antonin Carlès et Désiré-Maurjce Ferrary sculptent le fronton et ses cariatides: allégorie de la Banque, soutenue par le Commerce et l’industrie, la Seine et le Rhône.

[illustration of the building]

One of the series of signs describing historical places in Paris. The signs were placed starting in 1992 and are also called sucettes Starck (Starck’s Lollipops) after Philippe Starck who designed them.

The sign describes the place that was the headquarters of the Crédit Lyonnais bank, which was the largest French bank until 1993. Today the bank belongs to Crédit Agricole.
The building was designed by William Bouwens van der Boijen

The building was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image

The original name of the building still appears in gold letters, as can be seen in the following photo taken on the same day Click for a larger image

The sculptures on the front of the building mentioned on the sign appear in the following photos Click for a larger image Click for a larger image

The illustration in the center of the sign is shown here at magnification Click for a larger image

Translation of the text on the sign:
[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

History of Paris

Hôtel Crédit Lyonnais
On December 11, 1875, Crédit Lyonnais acquired the Hôtel de Boufflers by auction. Henri Germain, its president, decided to give a monumental appearance to the new head office. The work lasted from June 1876 to 1913, but the agency opened on March 23, 1878. The architect William Bouwens van der Boijen directed the construction until 1904, then Victor Laloux and André-Félix Narjoux built the facade on rue du September 4. The Gustave Eiffel establishments, then Moisant, executed the interior metal framework. Camille Lefèvre, Henri Lombard, Edouard Pépin, Antonin Carlès and Désiré-Maurjce Ferrary sculpt the pediment and its caryatids: allegory of the Bank, supported by Commerce and industry, the Seine and the Rhône.

[illustration of the building]