Did you know that just a few minutes from the center of Lyon, a jewel of the city’s hydraulic heritage slumbers in silence? Nestled in Saint-Clair, the former Usine des Eaux de Caluire is as fascinating as it is little-known! A blend of technical prowess and subterranean beauty, this guided tour plunges you into the history of Lyon’s water supply from antiquity to the present day. After seeing the Traboules, the Maison Valla and the Perrache hanging gardens, we knew that Lyon hid some unusual places, but this is by far the most fascinating!
For the record , the Usine des Eaux de Caluire was commissioned in 1856 to meet the growing needs of a rapidly expanding city, and operated until 1976. In fact, as soon as you arrive at the factory tour entrance, a slide show retraces the major stages of this adventure, before you discover the impressive 20-metre-highCornish pump, listed since 1991 (just as incredible as the rest).
A breathtaking underground world
The heart of the visit is revealed as you descend a narrow staircase into a vast 1,600 m²underground pool! The atmosphere is magical, the silence absolute, the natural coolness and the water motionless. And the craziest thing about it all is that it has remained untouched for almost 50 years! This feat of engineering, designed to filter the waters of the Rhône, embodies the history of the city’s modernization.
This site, the only one of its kind in France, has been preserved thanks to the association L’Eau à Lyon et la Pompe de Cornouailles, which campaigns for its preservation and enhancement. Their ambition? To make this former factory a place of memory and transmission, essential to understanding past and future issues. For visitors, it’s a completely unusual and spectacular place! Guided tours are offered regularly, and it’s well worth the detour! It’s the perfect opportunity to discover a listed site that tells one of Lyon’s many stories!