Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Pope's castle, located in Crépieux-la-Pape (now integrated in Rillieux-la-Pape), is marked by its 17th century portal, redesigned and restored in the 19th century. This portal bears the coat of arms of Jean Pillehote, owner of the castle at that time. The building changed hands several times before being acquired in 1864 by Henri Germain, then sold in 1942 to the Association des Compagnons de France, founded in 1940 by Henry Dhavernas, which made it its seat.

In 1946, the field was transformed into a learning centre by National Education, before being bought by the State in 1954. It built various buildings, including the current Lamarque vocational school. The castle thus embodies a transition between private residence, educational place, and public heritage, reflecting the social and institutional developments of the Lyon region.

The name La-Pape does not come from a religious reference, but from the term Lyonnais poype (fortified bud), from the Latin puppa. This linguistic detail illustrates the local anchoring of the monument in the history and geography of the Rhône plain, close to the old Lugdunum (Lyon). The castle, although less documented than other sites in the commune, remains a witness to the territorial dynamics, between seigneurial heritage and educational modernity.

The region, marked by strong population growth in the 20th century, saw Crépieux-la-Pape merge with Rillieux in 1972 to form Rillieux-la-Pape. This fusion, motivated by urban projects such as the creation of a ZUP, has integrated the castle into a landscape in full change, between historical memory and contemporary development.

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