Hidden behind high walls Allée Henriette whispers secrets. This quiet alley is a private cul-de-sac. It curves gently then forks. A small parking area serves the residents. Allée Henriette isn’t just any alley. It’s part of a larger story. A story of a once-grand estate. The Champagne estate. This vast property was broken up at the end of the 19th century. Allée Henriette’s houses emerged later. They stand on the same plan. Yet each is unique. Owners modified their homes over time. They built onto the original design. A wide ground floor. Then a narrow upper floor under a large triangular roof.
The name Henriette is a clue. Jean Pelletier tells us the developer’s wife bore this name. This quiet street is different from Rue Marie Henriette. That’s further away on the Croix Rousse. Lyon honors many Henris. There’s Place Henri and Rue Henri IV. Now Cour Saint Henri is reopened at Hôtel-Dieu.
Allée Henriette’s history holds a powerful secret. During the war the Savoye family lived at number 6. They bravely joined the Resistance. They hid weapons Jews and those escaping forced labor. They wrote and distributed leaflets. Marcelle Savoye the mother used her position as headmistress of the school on Rue Vernay. She helped Combat a Resistance group. Her daughter Jeannine born in Lyon in 1924 died in 2020. She received the Legion of Honour for her bravery. In 2021 the Matrimone exhibition featured her story. This quiet alley is filled with echoes. Echoes of a family’s courage during a time of war. Echoes of resilience and sacrifice.
Today Allée Henriette is home to other stories. The residents have placed signs throughout the alley. These signs teach proper behavior. Perhaps these signs remind them of the quiet dignity of the Savoye family. Or they are a reminder that even in quiet places stories unfold. Each house along the walls holds a story. Each brick whispers of the past. Each resident continues to write the next chapter in Allée Henriette’s story. The alley itself is a testament to resilience. It’s a place where the past quietly sits alongside the present. It’s a small yet significant part of Lyon’s history. A quiet story waiting to be discovered.