What if I told you this park connects Lyon to the world of silk and ancient Roman engineering? Welcome to the Parc du Brûlet. It is a green space with a unique history and some surprising features. The Parc du Brûlet sits in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon. This is part of the Lyon metropolitan area. At just over 4 hectares it is the largest green space in the commune.
Once, in the early 19th century, a wealthy family owned this land. They designed it as an English garden. Later it was split. One part became the park. The other became a residential area called La Calmeraie. Today, Lyon, Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, and the Grand Lyon all share ownership. An association exists to protect and promote the Parc du Brûlet.
Take a look around. Notice the variety of trees. The Parc du Brûlet is home to some remarkable species. You can spot the Mediterranean almond tree. Central European boxwood grows here too. See the Atlas cedar. Look for Provence and Leyland cypresses. Western European ash trees are scattered throughout. You might recognize the horse chestnut and red horse chestnut. The nettle tree of Provence thrives here. Can you find the mulberry tree? There is also the Chinese medlar. Himalayan pine trees stretch upward. Turkish plane trees offer shade. North American black locust trees complete the collection.
The Parc du Brûlet offers panoramic views. You can see Lyon and the Alps to the east. The Monts du Lyonnais lie to the west. Hidden in the north are remains of the Roman aqueduct of the Gier. This was one of four aqueducts supplying Lugdunum with water. A small staircase leads to a tunnel. A locked gate blocks the entrance. These remains are the visible part of an underground canal running through the Parc du Brûlet.
The southern part of the Parc du Brûlet is dedicated to mulberry cultivation. Since 1979, the Grand Lyon managed this area. It supplied mulberry leaves to silkworms at La Mulatière. This was a national sericulture unit of INRA. It closed in 2009.
Did you notice the shell symbol nearby? The Parc du Brûlet lies on one of the paths to Compostela. Pilgrims traveled through here from Lyon. They were on their way to Le Puy-en-Velay via the Monts du Lyonnais.
The Parc du Brûlet is easily accessible. It is open to the public. Public transport serves the park. Bounded by several streets, it roughly forms a triangle. The base is to the north. The summit points south. The park reaches an altitude of 305 meters.
So, as you leave the Parc du Brûlet remember its layers of history. From Roman aqueducts to silk production. From bourgeois gardens to public space. This park is a place where nature and history intertwine.