Parc Jacob-Kaplan: a green water garden in La Buire
Tucked into the La Buire district in the heart of Lyon's 3rd arrondissement, Parc Jacob-Kaplan, also known as Parc de la Buire, unfolds across 5,000 m² of urban greenery. It bears the name of Jacob Kaplan, a Resistance figure who later became Chief Rabbi of France from 1955 to 1980. Its signature feature: careful water landscaping and an artificial moat that infiltrates rainwater, making it a neighbourhood park that is both soothing and unusual. A natural pause between two visits.
A green pause a stone's throw from the centre
Parc Jacob-Kaplan feels like a breath of fresh air in the middle of the 3rd arrondissement. In the fast-changing La Buire district, it offers a pocket of calm where you can set down your bag, read for a while or let a lunch break stretch out. Away from the bustle of the main avenues, it is the kind of place locals make their own season after season. For a traveller, it rounds off a morning's walk through eastern Lyon perfectly, before or after strolling the nearby shopping streets.
Water as the guiding thread
What sets Parc Jacob-Kaplan apart is the prominence given to water. The site is shaped by substantial water engineering and by an artificial moat designed to infiltrate rainwater. The result is a living landscape where planting and water play off one another, and a way of managing rain that is visible to the naked eye. It is a fine example of the contemporary urban park, built as much for the pleasure of walkers as to serve the city. It is easy to linger and watch this small natural theatre change with the seasons.
A name steeped in history
Behind the greenery, the park carries a memory. Its name honours Jacob Kaplan, a figure of the Resistance who went on to serve as Chief Rabbi of France from 1955 to 1980. Giving his name to a neighbourhood green space weaves that history into residents' daily lives, walk after walk. For the curious visitor, it is an invitation to look beyond the lawns and remember that, in Lyon as elsewhere, parks also tell the story of the city and of those who shaped it.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Parc Jacob-Kaplan?
It lies in the La Buire district, within Lyon's 3rd arrondissement. It is a neighbourhood park easy to reach on foot during a walk through eastern Lyon.
What makes it special?
Its water management: the park is shaped by substantial water features and an artificial moat that infiltrates rainwater, making it a green space that is both peaceful and unusual.
Where does its name come from?
It honours Jacob Kaplan, a Resistance figure who was then Chief Rabbi of France from 1955 to 1980.
What to combine the visit with?
Ideal for a break during a walk through the 3rd arrondissement: pair it with the nearby shopping streets, or make it a spot for reading and a picnic in the warmer months.
Wikimedia Commons — Nouill · Wikimedia Commons — Benoît Prieur
