Hidden within Lyon’s 5th arrondissement lies Impasse Secret. This unassuming street holds a unique charm. It’s more than just a dead end. Impasse Secret is a pathway into the heart of Lyon’s social fabric. The street begins across from 20 Rue Joliot Curie and stretches southward to Rue Soucelier and Impasse de Tourvielle. The name itself, Impasse Secret, is intriguing. A Mr. Secret once owned land here. Interestingly, no one dared to call it a mere passage. This suggests a certain reverence for Mr. Secret and his property.
Impasse Secret houses the Maison de la Métropole pour les Solidarités. This vital community center serves the residents of Lyon’s 5th arrondissement. It acts as a one-stop shop for social services. These are provided by the Centre Communal d’Action Sociale (CCAS) and the Métropole de Lyon. The center offers various forms of assistance. These include administrative aid, housing support, and budget management. It also helps with access to food banks and social restaurants, as well as applications for essential benefits like RSA and APA.
The architecture of Impasse Secret is a mix of old and new. On the east side, you’ll find a stone building. This once housed a primary school and has since been elevated. Next to it stands a wall adorned with antique-style landscape frescoes, remnants of the school’s playground. Five individual houses, tucked behind small hedges, follow the school. As of 2020, the corner was under construction for housing development. The west side presents a different picture, with concrete buildings, one facing the street and two set back. A concrete cube sits atop the school’s covered area. A chestnut and a maple tree partially overhang the road, in front of the former community center building that once marked the end of Impasse Secret.
The Impasse has undergone transformations over time. A narrow passage, flanked by younger trees, leads to a widened area converted into a parking lot. This area opens onto gardens to the west and is bordered to the east by the Prisme buildings. These very buildings prompted the connection of Impasse Secret with Impasse de Tourvielle, now named Soucelier. Interestingly, the community center building dates back to 1906. While the plan to open up the south end of Impasse Secret began in 1997, it was already envisioned in 1935. This transformation effectively changed its status from an impasse to a street. Impasse Secret isn’t a secret anymore. It’s a testament to Lyon’s community spirit. It’s a place where social solidarity thrives.