A hidden gem. That’s Rue Chalumeaux. Tucked away in Lyon it’s a narrow lane. It begins near Rue Saint Vincent de Paul. It ends at Rue Carrier. Two signs clearly mark it as a private road.
Rue Chalumeaux is a testament to Lyon’s history. Its charming architecture is a mix of old and new. On the west side a wall runs along the street. Then there is a workshop. In 2019 this whole west side was rebuilt. Now a gray one-story wall connects two buildings. White balconies peek out from these buildings onto the main streets.
The east side is different. Buildings are not in a straight line. This creates triangular garden spaces. A well-painted four-story building stands next to a smaller house. A wall hides a boules court. Beyond that are garages and a small garden wall.
This quiet street is named after a person. Not after the engineer Camille Chalumeau. The street honors A Chalumeaux. Marie Antoine Auguste Chalumeau was born in 1869 in the Jura region. He died in 1942. He was the priest of Saint Vincent de Paul from 1924.
Rue Chalumeaux was opened sometime between the 1920s and 1930s. It’s a little piece of Lyon’s past. The Olympic boules club was founded in 1924. Perhaps some games were played near Rue Chalumeaux. It’s a street with a story waiting to be discovered. It is a quiet lane with a rich past. Its charm lies in its understated elegance and intriguing history. Rue Chalumeaux a small street with a big story to tell.