Where exactly does this Quai Fillon lead? It’s a fair question. This quai offers access to different facets of Lyon.
Quai Fillon provides access to the Parc de Gerland. You can enter through the Porte de la Navigation. The quai’s eastern end meets Rue Jean Bouin. This point marks Lyon’s southernmost edge. Access to the port is regulated here. The A entrance of Port Edouard Herriot extends from Quai Fillon.
Let’s talk about what you see here at Quai Fillon. South of us, a fence guards the port. Through it, glimpses of containers and CNR cranes appear. To the north are the playing fields. Grids and rows of trees border them. Buildings stand to the west. A large wooden hangar houses the LOU’s activities. Across in the Parc de Gerland, a white circular tower serves France’s waterways. You can’t see the Rhône from Quai Fillon. The port and VNF areas block the view.
Who was this Fillon? Fillon was a Lyonnais silk merchant. He died in 1713. He left his fortune to needy children.
Let’s jump back in time. In 1860, a dike was built. It protected a chemical factory and shipyards. The Port Edouard Herriot was established in 1937. Quai Fillon was revitalized with the Parc de Gerland’s opening after 2000. This park shortened the quai. It once followed the Rhône to the present-day Rue de Turin. In 2012, the street ended in a dead end. The park was closed during the metro extension toward Oullins.
What about sports and associations? The LOU is an all-sports club. It built its headquarters here in 2001. The club closed in 2008. It was replaced by discipline-specific associations. In 2012, tennis was played here. LOU tennis is still here. Their website dates its founding to 1896. Caroline Garcia trains here during the Open tournaments. The sports office has its entrance in the park. The playing fields and football fields are here too. Rugby has moved closer. It has taken over the Gerland stadium. Kart races have been organized on the quai too.
The VNF has its establishment here. It is at number 70. It is the regional Rhône Saône management. It is the Lyon river service.
Quai Fillon has seen many changes. From protecting industry to supporting sports. From a silk merchant’s legacy to modern transport. It embodies Lyon’s ever-evolving spirit.