Picture this. You are standing at the very edge of Lyon. Rue de Surville stretches before you a curious blend of urban and rural.
Rue de Surville is a peculiar street. It sits on the border between Lyon and Saint Fons. It begins at Boulevard Chambaud de la Bruyere in the seventh arrondissement. It ends at Route de Vienne in the eighth arrondissement. Across the street you’ll find Rue Levy de Venissieux. The western end of the street is quite unique. It is still under development. Barriers protect the vacant lots.
The history of Rue de Surville is fascinating. The Surville path existed in the mid-19th century. The street’s western section remains unfinished bordering the city limits. Concrete barriers protect the empty land. Near Route de Vienne it’s quite pleasant. However further along it’s rather strange. It becomes lively on big match nights when the 7 Ampere parking lot opens. It was once called Allee Mottard then Chemin de Surville. The reason for its name remains a mystery.
Along its northern side Rue de Surville runs past EDF property. A long house and buzzing electrical cables are visible. Rue Saint Jean de Dieu branches north. A large vacant lot overgrown with vegetation is seen stretching to the railway tracks. In Saint Fons there are allotment gardens. A huge parking lot serves the stadium. A smaller lot contains facilities for travelers.
The street passes under three railway bridges. The eastern two are too low. The roadway was lowered to let trucks pass. The street’s end is surprisingly green. Bushes separate the sidewalks from the road. The SNCF built three buildings here around 1930. Two face the street. One sits further back. A hill hides the car dealership parking lot on Route de Vienne.
Rue de Surville gently slopes upward. It follows the Saint Jean de Dieu property. A lovely gate opens the long wall. A walled and hedged area is at the corner of Route de Vienne. It houses the small buildings of the day care center and school.
So there you have it. Rue de Surville. A fascinating mix of the old and the new. A street that has a story to tell. A mystery waiting to be solved. Who knows what secrets this unique Lyons street still holds?