A street with an identical name exists in many other French cities, most notably in Marseille, where it links the Vieux-Port with the La Joliette neighbourhood.

In 1894, President of France Sadi Carnot was assassinated just near the Palace of Commerce, located on the Place des Cordeliers.

A red stone on the Rue de la République marks the place of the assassination.

The location of the Rue de la République, in the center of the city, and its large number of shops make the street one of the most frequented ones of Lyon by day and night.

Like the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, the Rue de la République attracts a large number of signs, including: The Rue de la République is lined with Haussman-style buildings, constructed in the 19th century when the street was created.