Along Chemin de Montessuy in Lyon a gentle slope unfolds. This unassuming path holds a hidden history. Chemin de Montessuy isn’t just a street. It’s a timeline. A record of Lyon’s evolving landscape.
Chemin de Montessuy winds its way through Lyon’s 9th arrondissement. It’s a quiet residential street. Its name hints at a past. A grand house once stood at number 11. It boasted a beautiful curved wall. This house disappeared in 2019. It was replaced by a modern two-story building.
The street is divided by metal posts. This creates two distinct sections. One section starts near Rue Sylvain Simondan. The other begins near the 69 Montée des Balmes. The numbering is peculiar. Number 11 faces number 15.
To the west of Chemin de Montessuy stands a high-rise building. It’s part of the Cité Edouard Herriot complex. Three individual houses stand beyond. They sit nestled in large gardens. One house resembles a small tower with a glazed opening beneath the roof. On the east side. A modern development climbs the slope. This area is a cluster of nine recent villas.
The southern section of Chemin de Montessuy is a smaller path. It descends gently among villas with extensive gardens. In 2019 a house was under construction. There’s also the Hameau du Petit Montessuy. It is a development of six houses. They form a curved line around a courtyard.
The name Montessuy itself points to a former property. This is according to local historian Jean Pelletier. There’s also a larger Montessuy complex in Caluire.
The original path likely served the large house at number 11. Villas appeared in the latter half of the 20th century. The housing developments were built around the 1980s. In 2023 new houses are being constructed near Rue Simondan. Chemin de Montessuy even hosted pétanque matches in 2019. This was organized by the Amis de Titi association.
Chemin de Montessuy. It is a testament to time. A quiet observer of Lyon’s transformations. It’s more than just a street. It’s a narrative etched into the very fabric of the city. A story waiting to be explored.