Today, the central square of the district, Place de la Croix Rousse, hosts the main events of the plateau as well as a food market several days a week. The statue of Joseph Marie Jacquard, a famous French inventor who created the first semi-automatic loom in 1801, stands in the middle of the square. This invention played a crucial role in the development of the silk industry in the city, making it one of the most advanced of its field. The district carries the named Croix Rousse because in 1560, an ochre stone cross was placed on the top of the hill of this newly built neighborhood. Sometimes history is simple! Anyway, let's get on with it!