Beaver Houses of Villeurbanne: Revive, Resist, Reimagine – Heritage Days 2026

Delve into the history of the Castors houses and the workers' utopia

On the occasion of the European Heritage Days 2026, THE Castor Houses of Villeurbanne open their doors for an event entitled «"Revive, Resist, Reimagine"». This unique site, built between 1945 and 1955, is a testament to a social and architectural utopia: working-class families built their own houses on difficult terrain, marked by the old branches of the Rhône and a shallow water table.

The event features an exhibition entitled «"The pain of water is infinite."», in conjunction with the Lyon Contemporary Art Biennale 2026. The artists Jérôme Dupré la Tour And Élodie Tranchant They occupy one of the houses to explore, through visual and video works, the theme of dreams and memory. Water, a central element of the place, runs through the exhibition as a symbol of fluidity between what happened and what could have been.

An immersion in the history of self-construction and ordinary heritage, between collective memory and contemporary creation.

Practical information for the Castor Houses event

Date : Sunday, September 20, 2026
Hourly : from 3pm to 7:30pm
Place : Maisons Castors, 12 rue Alfred Brinon, 69100 Villeurbanne
Price: Free - FREE ENTRANCE (subject to availability)

Public transport:
– Metro A: Station Skyscraper Or Flachet
– Buses C3, C11, C26: Stops nearby

Audience : Suitable for all audiences.

Additional information:
This event is organized in conjunction with the Lyon Contemporary Art Biennial 2026.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to discover an ordinary heritage steeped in history, where social utopia meets contemporary artistic creation!