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Origin and history

The Séminaire Saint-Irénée de Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon was founded in 1663 when Camille de Neuville, archbishop of Lyon, founded it by decree. Originally installed as St Barthélemy and then at La Croix-Paquet in 1669, he was dependent on the Séminaire Saint-Sulpice in Paris and trained future priests in theology and philosophy. His income came in particular from tithes of parishes such as Firminy and Champdieu (present-day Loire department). Aggregated at the University of Valencia in 1738, it was rebuilt at the end of the 19th century by Tony Desjardins, before being transferred to a new building in the early 20th century.

The current building, designed by architect Sainte-Marie Perrin between 1900 and 1903, is inspired by the hygienist principles of the time for schools. Organized in the shape of H, it includes a central body surmounted by a pediment and a clock, two wings with pavilions, and a Byzantine chapel decorated with stained glass by Lucien Bégule and murals, now missing. Innovative materials for the time, such as chewing concrete, underline its modern character. The seminar, listed Monument Historique in 2007, was sold in 2010 and transformed into 98 units under the name Residence Neuville.

The chapel, aligned on the axis of the hall of honour, illustrates the Byzantine influence with its concrete vaults and domes. The five levels of the building initially housed seminarian cells, classrooms, refectories, and a library in the northwest wing. The side pavilions served as housing for teachers. After its religious decommissioning, the site was rehabilitated between 2009 and 2012 by Chazelle, preserving its architecture while adapting it to residential use.

The Seminary of Saint-Irenaeus embodies the evolution of the religious institutions of Lyon, moving from an educational and spiritual role to an architectural heritage redesigned for the 21st century. Its history also reflects the urban transformations of the Lyon agglomeration, where the historic building is often converted to meet contemporary needs.

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