Have you ever felt the weight of history beneath your feet? Here on the Montée des Génovéfains in Lyon you can. This steep climb is more than just a street. It’s a living testament to centuries of faith devotion and transformation.
The Montée des Génovéfains. Its name itself hints at a rich past. It was once home to a priory a place of religious devotion. This wasn’t just any priory. It was associated with the Canons Regular of Saint Genevieve. These canons arrived in 1704 from Paris. They replaced an earlier order of canons who had served the parish of Saint-Irénée.
Imagine these canons their lives dedicated to prayer study and preaching. They weren’t just scholars and men of God. They were ambitious builders too. They envisioned grand constructions. They even sought the designs of the famed architect Soufflot. This famous architect is known for his work on the Pantheon in Paris. However the canons had to wait until the mid-18th century for their ambitious project to begin. Toussaint Loyer oversaw the construction. This master builder came all the way from Paris to Lyon to build this magnificent convent.
The construction took a long time. It wasn’t finished until 1789. The sheer quality of the construction is something you can still admire today. The building’s elegant lines and sturdy construction remain. They are particularly noticeable in the facade and the well-balanced rooms and corridors on the ground floor. The beauty of the architecture stands as a testament to the skill and dedication of those who built it.
The French Revolution however brought dramatic changes. The property was sold at auction in 1791. It ended up in the hands of a woman named Madame Peilleux. The convent changed hands again in 1813. The nuns of the Charity of Notre-Dame du Refuge acquired it. This order dedicated itself to educating orphaned and vulnerable girls. The Montée des Génovéfains became a place of refuge. It remained so until after World War II.
Today the buildings serve as the Diocesan House. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of this location. As you stand here imagine the prayers whispered in this place the lives touched the stories written into the very stones beneath your feet. The Montée des Génovéfains offers a unique window into Lyon’s history. A window onto the lives of those who lived here centuries ago. A window onto how history continuously shapes this unique location.