Did you know that Montée des Balmes is more than just a steep path? It is a journey through time etched into Lyon’s landscape. We are standing at the foot of Montée des Balmes. It begins where Rue Pierre Termier meets the railway bridge at the end of Grande Rue.
This isn’t just any slope. A “balme” is an old word for a hillside slope. Lyon sits on land with many slopes. Hence the name Montée des Balmes which means Balmes Ascent. The name Montée des Balmes is old and appears on a map from 1863.
Let’s walk a bit. Notice the stone walls on either side. To the north, the wall runs along old houses. To the south, it opens to a driveway leading to a villa perched above.
In the early 20th century, Lyon faced a crisis. Two catastrophic landslides in 1932 claimed many lives. As a result, the commission des Balmes was founded. This organization inspects and reinforces the subsoil. It prevents future deadly collapses.
As we continue, picture this area long ago. The Rhone glacier left erratic blocks in the Chemin des Petites Balmes. It ascends from Saint Rambert to La Chaux.
The upper sections of Montée des Balmes can be reached from Rue Falsan. North of Rue Falsan, it borders Saint Cyr au Mont d’Or. After that, it continues into that town as Chemin de Champlong.
In 2009, part of Montée des Balmes collapsed. Barriers blocked access beyond the children’s home and the cemetery. As of May 2019, the barriers remained. The section was still inaccessible. But life goes on. At the corner of Rue Falsan, two houses were under construction.
Let’s consider the northern side. A gate opens to the large park of the Maison de l’Enfance. It is a recreation center with a small farm along the wall. Higher on the hill sits a beautiful house. It has pilasters on its facade. A majestic entrance features two venerable columns.
Observe how the stone changes as we ascend from Rue Falsan. The stone has a golden hue. But the rectangular shape is thinner. This is a feature that is characteristic of the area. It is different from stones in Lyon.
Montée des Balmes curves north. Soon it leaves Lyon. It turns into a small road winding toward Saint Cyr and Mont Cindre.
The cemetery houses several notable figures from Saint Rambert. The Couty family is here. Also, Jean Baptiste, Ernest Fabrègue, and Malibran are buried here. The war memorial lists the names of Saint Rambert’s war victims.
Montée des Balmes is a reminder of Lyon’s past. It is a testament to the city’s resilience. It is a connection to the land itself.