Hidden high above Lyon lies Rue de la Garde. A winding road it is. Its name suggests a history of protection a watch over the city below. Rue de la Garde starts near the Rue des Aqueducs. It curves gracefully northward toward Tassin. From its heights you can see Tassin spread below. Beyond Tassin rise the rolling hills of the Lyonnais mountains.
Rue de la Garde is more than a pretty view. It’s a testament to Lyon’s evolution. Once a quiet country lane it served a few properties in the 18th century. Today it’s a mix of old and new architecture. Ancient walls remain. They stand beside modern apartment buildings. The north side boasts the park of La Garde. There is a grassy area and a wood. A magnificent chestnut tree stands sentinel at the wall’s edge.
The south side is a different story. There’s a block of buildings. Then a row of apartments stand in a staggered pattern. An old house at number 21 catches the eye. Nearby are two groups of green and white six-story buildings. A less appealing third structure sits at number 39. From 41 to 49 a lane climbs gently. This lane serves several detached houses. One stands closer to Rue de la Garde itself.
Rounding the bend you overlook the La Garde residence. This is a long building. The number of floors increases to compensate for the downward slope. Farther on you can see the towers of Avenue Barthélémy Buyer and the Duchère. Rue de la Garde runs alongside six individual houses nestled in their gardens. These are below the road near the impasse.
A higher wall obscures a large house. Then a hedge shields the residence des sapins de Champvert. Finally you reach the sign indicating the town of Tassin. The impasse de la Garde is fairly wide. It serves about a dozen houses. These were built on the same square plan. Numbers 3 and 5 are different. They are joined together. The impasse ends at a final gate.
Rue de la Garde’s history is rich with human stories. Emmanuel Vitte lived at number 22 in 1884. This was when his son Marc was born. They founded a Catholic bookstore. It was located on Place Bellecour and Rue du Plat. The diocesan museum chronicles their work. Pierre Garaud lived at number 26. Born in 1888 he died in 1969. He was dean of the law faculty and hospital administrator. A hospital bears his name. It’s on Rue Commandant Charcot.
Even today life continues along Rue de la Garde. Many runners pass by the park. The most dedicated run all the way from Tassin. A local bakery adds to the community feel. Rue de la Garde is more than just a street. It’s a living link to Lyon’s past. It’s a quiet observer a witness to centuries of change. It remains a place to pause and reflect on the beauty of the city below.