Here, take a moment. The Allée de Fontenay stretches before us. It is more than just a path. It is a tribute.
The Allée de Fontenay begins on Rue André Bollier and ends on Avenue Debourg. A pedestrian path extends it south to Rue Challemel Lacour. To the north, a street is under construction to Rue Marot. It has become Rue Léopold Sédar Senghor.
Notice the width of the Allée de Fontenay. Two rows of trees line the wide sidewalks. Parts are paved. Parts are earth.
The east side borders the École Normale Supérieure’s grounds. Small trees line the way. Two buildings align the street. First, a wall with high windows. Then, a white building with two floors of horizontal windows.
On the west side, the Allée de Fontenay runs along the Grand Lyon grid. Low workshops sit in the background. The corner warehouse wall called Halle Debourg was decorated in 2019. This was part of the Peinture Fraîche exhibition.
The southern part of Allée de Fontenay passes between a fence and a parking lot. Then it goes between a courtyard and gardens. The city has placed two benches here. In 2019, the entire plot on the west side was under construction. By 2023, it had been developed with benches in gardens along the fence. To the west are three brick buildings with black openings. The south corner of Rue Monod juts out, leaving an empty space. It ends with number 46 Avenue Challemel.
To the north, number 63 Rue André Bollier is called Fontenay. It presents a black flank. On the east side, the Bon Lait day nursery shows beautiful wooden curves. This part has become Rue Senghor.
This path honors the town of Fontenay aux Roses. It is near Paris. It is where the École Normale Supérieure began training young women. They were to become teachers. The school grew and moved to Lyon in 2000. Now it prepares students for the agrégation. This is a competitive examination for teachers.
Fontenay aux Roses has 25,000 residents. It is about 500 kilometers north of Lyon. Don’t confuse it with the Chemin de Fontenay. That street is in Saint Cyr. It extends from Rue Pierre Termier.
During the 20th century, this area was industrial land. The current part of Allée de Fontenay opened around the year 2000. Plans to extend it between Rue Debourg and Rue Challemel Lacour were made in 2016. In 2022, this part was under construction. Two buildings were completed on the west side around Rue Monod. A narrow passage is reserved for pedestrians.
The Allée de Fontenay passes between the Grand Lyon water department and the École Normale Supérieure. Only the Institut National de Recherche Pédagogique INRP opens onto the street.
The Allée de Fontenay aims to be a green spine for Gerland’s urban project. It links the southern university facilities and the universities on the Quays of the Rhône.
The avenue fosters local life. Public facilities like the library, day nursery, and gymnasium are nearby. The future social and cultural center is in the Girondins district. It favors gentle modes of transport. It offers local and friendly spaces. It provides a continuous green and ecological network.
Take a moment to appreciate this green space. The Allée de Fontenay. It is a link, a tribute, and a breath of fresh air in the city.