If you thought you had seen it all in Lyon, it’s because you’ve never set foot in Saint-Clair, just across the Rhône. Over there, discreet and silent, an industrial gem slumbers out of sight. The old Caluire Water Factory, a treasure of Lyon's hydraulic heritage, hides behind its austere name, but what it holds will literally blow you away. A 20-meter-tall machine, an underground basin of 1,600 m², an almost sacred silence, a natural coolness... In short, a setting straight out of a dystopian novel, heritage style.
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A true journey through time
This place is a trip back in time. Opened in 1856 to supply water to a booming Lyon, this engineering masterpiece operated tirelessly until 1976. Today, it stands preserved as if the workers just stepped out yesterday. As soon as you enter, a slideshow immerses you in the remarkable history of water in Lyon, before you come face to face with the monumental Cornouailles pump, recognized as a historical monument.
And this is just the beginning. Descending a narrow staircase, you discover this gigantic, mysterious, almost mystical basin, with its play of natural light and perfectly still water reflections.
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An Unusual Place on the Borders of Reality
It's the association L'Eau à Lyon and the Pompe de Cornouailles that take care of this treasure, advocating for it to become a space of memory and transmission. And honestly, we get it! Because in addition to being a witness to urban modernization, this place is an architectural UFO, a spot that even the most curious Lyonnais wouldn't imagine. Guided tours are regularly organized, and spoiler alert: they are worth every minute. Lyon clearly isn’t done surprising us!
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Address: 362 Wette Fays Rd, 69300 Caluire-et-Cuire, France