Par Théo Zuili
Published on 16 Mar 24 at 6:28 See my news Follow News Lyon
The city of Lyon is rich in an invisible history, hidden beneath our feet and rarely explored. Since 2001, a group of friends has taken on the mission of preserving this little-known heritage from damage.
Quickly transformed into an association, the Organization for the Knowledge and Restoration of Below-Earth (Ocra) organizes the only visits to underground cavities from Lyon.
The only underground tour in Lyon
Bastien Grégis is a carpenter, architect and urban guide. But when he crosses the heavy wooden doors behind which this underground passage is hidden, it is his hat as president of Ocra that he puts on.
Accompanied by Lucien Tisserand, secretary of the association, he invites us to follow him at the foot of the flight of stairs which leads towards the bowels of Fort de Vaise. Created by man, it is the only underground cavity that it is possible to visit in Lyon. It dives up to 10 meters below ground level.
Long corridors extend under the fortifications of Fort de Vaise: Ocra is the only one able to show you around them. (©Théo Zuili / news Lyon)
Like the fifty volunteer members of the association, Bastien and Lucien are great enthusiasts of the hidden heritage of Lyon and underground exploration. This is the mission that Ocra de Lyon has given itself: to bring this secret heritage, forgotten for a long time, to life through the visits that only they can organize.
Between stone walls and anecdotes
There is a captivating atmosphere between these walls of thick, ocher stones, soiled by time, dust and humidity, but still just as robust. Imported from the Monts d’Or, north of Lyon, they were installed around 1840 to build these narrow corridors used to protect the city from invaders.
A former bastion of Lyon’s defensive belt, Fort de Vaise hid this underground passage for more than a century and a half. The Renaud Foundation, owner of the place, has hosted the Ocra since 2001 to preserve it and give it a second life. “When the Ocra arrived, it was fill everywhere. We cleared everythinghundreds of kilos,” recalls Bastien.
Videos: currently on News Bastien Grégis, 31, also plays the role of guide: he knows the history of this place like the back of his hand. (©Théo Zuili / news Lyon)
Result: this shooting gallery is very well preserved. While the dim light of flashlights casts moving shadows, enthusiasts abound in anecdotes on the history of this unusual place through the galleries. The visit lasts one hour, you need to equip yourself with sneakers and grab one of the lanterns distributed.
Visits that are a hit in Lyon
The visits are a great success. “It’s a hit, because people are intrigued, it’s a place of mysteries and fantasies,” explains Bastien. At the beginning of March, registrations, to be recorded on the Ocra websiteare full until June.
With more than 1,000 visitors per year, Ocra de Lyon can pride itself on having brought this hidden underground into the lives of more than 20,000 people since the first visits in 2005.
During these guided tours, reserved for a small number of people to 10€ each, these guides also tour the perimeter of Fort de Vaise. The visit ends with a conference on the broader subject of Lyon’s underground, in which Ocra has become a specialist, with supporting photos.
Passionate people united in association
In addition to promoting heritage, the association of enthusiasts allows to its members to visit buried heritage throughout France during group visits.
“We are often approached by Urbexeurs, people who are thinking of joining us to visit all the underground passages in Lyon and make tags. That’s really not the theme,” warns Bastien. ” We, we bring our expertise as well as a specialization in the development of underground heritage. » Even supporting owners who discover “holes” on their land.
Between the founders and the new generation, Ocra de Lyon brings together its enthusiasts and trains its members. (©Théo Zuili / news Lyon)
Next step for Ocra de Lyon? Organize visits to a similar underground facility, in Caluire, “but it’s not for now, the regulations don’t allow us to do it yet.”
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2024-03-16 12:24:59
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