Château de Ménival

Have you ever stumbled upon a secret, tucked away in plain sight? Château de Ménival stands here before us, a quiet enigma amidst the vibrant tapestry of Lyon. Château de Ménival whispers stories of centuries past, a tangible link to Lyon’s rich history. This grand residence, built in the late 19th century, exudes an air of Renaissance elegance. Château de Ménival is a rectangular structure, boasting a ground floor and two main floors, with a third subtly recessed. Its south facade, slightly asymmetrical, is punctuated by an octagonal tower to the west and a rounded tower to the east. Galleries adorned with columns stretch across two floors on the west side. On the east side, triple mullioned windows add a touch of Gothic charm. Two more towers, also graced with mullioned windows, complete the picture, with a third tucked into the northeast corner. Originally, a 17th-century structure occupied this spot, known as Massut. By the early 18th century, Laurent Pons, a Lyon tailor, owned the land. His brother Jean, a Parisian tailor, inherited it in 1740. Fast forward to 1896. Jules Durand, the then-owner, decided to replace the old building with the Château de Ménival we see today. Later, Auguste Teste, a prominent industrialist and vice-president of the Lyon Chamber of Commerce, called Château de Ménival home during the first half of the 20th century. He sold the property in 1956 to the Société Immobilière Coopérative du Domaine de Ménival. Sadly, Château de Ménival faced potential demolition. It was eventually saved by the Ecole Sociale du Sud-Est, who established a community center within its walls. By 1971, the upper floors were sold off as private apartments. The community center occupied only the first floor, before eventually being sold as well. The west tower has now been transformed into a luxurious triplex. While we can admire its exterior from here, Château de Ménival remains a private residence, its secrets hidden behind closed doors. It serves as a reminder that even in a bustling city like Lyon, pockets of history remain, quietly whispering their stories to those who know where to listen.