Montchat | |
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Arrondissement | |
 Montchat: quartier pavillonnaire in east Lyon. 2016. | |
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| Coordinates: 45°44′58″N 4°53′15″W / 45.74944°N 4.88750°W | |
| Population | |
| • Total | 14,320 hab. (2,013) |
| • Density | 10,085/km2 (26,120/sq mi) |
Montchat - /mɔ̃ʃa/ - is a district in the 3rd arrondissement of the French commune of Lyon. It forms the eastern part of the city. It ends on the east with a hill bordering Bron and adjoins Villeurbanne to the north.
On the Montchat estate, a simple country estate originally in Dauphiné, a fortified castle was built in the 16th century: Château de Montchat. Queen Christine was one of its guests. Later, in 1852, Lyon expanded and the 3rd arrondissement was created. It covers the entire area east of the Rhône. As a result, the commune of La Guillotière was absorbed, and at one of its extremities was Montchat, still sparsely populated. It was therefore in the mid-19th century that landowners responded to the demographic demands of the city center by urbanizing their estates. The subdivision plan established plots of a few hundred square meters in Montchat to keep industry out. This still leaves its mark on the neighborhood.
Now a constituent part of Lyon, this neighborhood of around 14,000 inhabitants in 2013 retains a "village spirit". Small villas line streets named after the family of the first developer, Jean Louis Richard-Vitton. They are trying to resist real estate pressure. Its predominantly residential character means that the economy is geared to local needs. As a result, the area offers a wide range of services and shops. The concern for adequate facilities, present since its emergence, persists. As a whole, the neighborhood is self-sufficient.
Of course, the château is steeped in ancient history, but the two green spaces in the heart of the urban area also hold memories of more recent times. However, the district doesn't live in the past and, as a testament to its dynamism, social activities have been thriving for a century.