Rue Saint-Amour

“A hidden gem?” you might ask, glancing at Rue Saint-Amour. Rue Saint-Amour in Lyon whispers stories of a bygone era. It stretches from Rue des Rancy southwards to Square Pelloux on Rue Villeroy. Rue Saint-Amour holds the memory of the Clos Saint Amour. This estate was sold during the area’s urbanization in the mid-19th century. The street layout, along with Rue du Gazomètre and Rue de la Villardière, still reflects this historical development. Interestingly, a Château de Saint Amour once stood nearby, tragically collapsing during the Rhône flood of 1840. On the east side of Rue Saint-Amour, you’ll find modern facades, three to five stories high. Some have recessed balconies. A break in the buildings reveals a hidden garden. The first building has an entrance beneath pillars. The last building on the corner of Rue Villeroy is slightly larger. Number 13 stands out with its large workshop door. The west side of Rue Saint-Amour presents a different scene entirely. It backs onto a large EDF substation, a mix of concrete and metal. Three older houses, one or two stories high, remain in front, separated by the substation’s fences and parking areas. Number 16 juts out in front of a square tower belonging to the substation. The other two houses sit on the corners of Rue Rancy and Rue Villeroy. The name Saint-Amour itself has a fascinating history, unrelated to the substation. Saint Amour is also the name of one of the ten Beaujolais crus. It is the namesake of a town and its wine. A restaurant on Rue Villeroy, also called Saint Amour, likely features this wine on its menu. There is also another Saint Amour, a place in the Jura region. Its castle, the Château de Joudes, built by Charles de Thoisy, the lord of Rancy, was once owned by a Lyonnaise woman named Marie Cottin in the 1920s. So, as you stroll down Rue Saint-Amour, remember you’re walking through a space shaped by time, urban development, and a touch of wine country heritage.