Remember Paul Sédallian? He lived close to here. Paul Sédallian was a man of science and service. This is Quai Paul Sédallian. It is named in his honor.
Paul Sédallian was born in 1894. He died in 1960 in Saint-Rambert-l’Île-Barbe. That is not far from here. He was a doctor and professor of medicine. Sédallian also directed the Pasteur Institute. Moreover, he served as a municipal councillor.
Before it was Quai Paul Sédallian it had different names. It was once called Chemin de Lyon à Saint Rambert. It was also known as Quai de la Sauvagère in 1908. For a time it was named Quai Jean Jaurès. Another former name was Quai de l’Industrie. The area slightly back from the Quai Paul Sédallian and Quai du Commerce still carries that name.
In the past the Rivoire et Carret pasta factory was located here. It stood at the corner of Rue Joannès Carret. Joannès Carret is remembered in the street name.
Between 1893 and 1907 the concrete wall was built. It protects the road from high water. The villas north of Quai Paul Sédallian also date from this time.
An interesting event occurred in November 1930. An aircraft taking pictures of a disaster nearly caused another. Running low on fuel the pilot glided toward Île Barbe. He had to ditch his plane in the Saône. The pilot swam to safety.
Residential construction came to this area in 1954. The Sauvagère neighborhood added to the existing villas.
The arrival of the video game company Atari in 2001 changed the area. It signaled a shift to digital economy. Construction and demolition have been ongoing since then.
Today Quai Paul Sédallian is popular with runners and cyclists. It is also a place where you might see rowers training on the Saône.
Look to the north. You can see Île Barbe. To the south you can spot the Vaise church tower. It rises above the Champvert hills. Across the Saône notice the wooded Caluire hill. Also note the detailed Cuire village.
Take a moment to appreciate the long row of plane trees. They offer shade along the Quai Paul Sédallian. The path isn’t paved everywhere. Some parts remain gravel.
Quai Paul Sédallian offers a glimpse into Lyon’s past. It shows how the city evolves. It honors a man who dedicated his life to medicine and community. This quai is a testament to progress. It also acknowledges the importance of remembering the people who shaped Lyon.