After two decades of silence, the Saint-Bernard church is undergoing a transformation that is as bold as it is symbolic. Decommissioned in the early 2000s for safety reasons, the building has been empty… until now. The City of Lyon has just approved a rehabilitation project that definitively turns the page on the past, without erasing it.
A hybrid project combining sports, café, and work
Climbing, working, and enjoying coffee beneath neo-Gothic arches: that’s the promise of the future venue. Led by the company Carré d’Or through its subsidiary Colbert, the project plans to transform 1,800 m² into a multifunctional space. On the agenda: an indoor climbing gym, a café-restaurant open to the neighborhood, offices, and a co-working space. An estimated investment of 4.85 million euros to breathe new life into a building that has long been set aside.
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The transformation is officially underway, with a 50-year emphyteutic lease signed starting January 2026. Voted on by the city council, this contract will allow the City of Lyon to remain the owner while entrusting the operation of the site. In return, the community will receive an annual fee of 31,000 euros. Studies will begin in January, with a building permit application expected in June.
The heritage at the heart of the project
There's no way we're sacrificing the soul of the place on the altar of modernity. Built in the 19th century by architect Tony Desjardins, the Saint-Bernard church preserves valuable heritage elements that will be fully protected. Statues, a bronze bell, the war memorial from 14-18, and commemorative plaques will all remain in place, standing as witnesses to the rich past.is in the Lyon of tomorrow.
Address: 4 Mnt Saint-Sébastien, 69001 Lyon, France