The Best Museums in Lyon
Lyon is one of France’s most rewarding cities for culture lovers. Beyond its famous cuisine, Renaissance streets and Roman heritage, the city is home to an impressive collection of museums covering fine art, ancient history, cinema, textiles, science and local traditions.
Whether you are visiting Lyon for a weekend or spending several days exploring the city, these are some of the best museums in Lyon to add to your itinerary.
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon
Located on Place des Terreaux in the heart of the Presqu’île, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon is one of the city’s essential cultural attractions. Housed in a former 17th-century Benedictine convent, the museum contains an extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, antiquities, decorative arts and coins. Visitors can explore works ranging from ancient Egypt to major European artistic movements.
Best for: Art lovers, classical painting, sculpture and archaeology.
Musée des Confluences
At the meeting point of the Rhône and Saône rivers, the striking Musée des Confluences is one of Lyon’s most distinctive modern landmarks. The museum explores major questions about humanity, nature, science and civilisation through collections covering anthropology, natural history and world cultures. Its futuristic architecture is almost as memorable as the exhibitions inside, making it particularly popular with families and visitors looking for something different.
Best for: Families, science, anthropology and contemporary architecture.
Musée Cinéma et Miniature
Lyon has an important place in the history of cinema, and the Musée Cinéma et Miniature offers a fascinating look behind the scenes of filmmaking. Located in Vieux Lyon, the museum features film props, costumes, special-effects displays and remarkably detailed miniature scenes. Its location among the cobbled streets and Renaissance buildings of the old town makes it easy to combine with a walking tour of Vieux Lyon.
Best for: Film fans, families and visitors interested in special effects.
Musée Lumière
Lyon is closely associated with the birth of cinema thanks to brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière. The Musée Lumière, located in the Lumière family villa, tells the story of their inventions and experiments with moving images. Exhibits explore the development of early filmmaking technology and the extraordinary influence the Lumière brothers had on cinema.
Best for: Cinema history and photography enthusiasts.
Lugdunum – Musée et Théâtres Romains
Long before it became Lyon, the city was known as Lugdunum, one of the most important Roman settlements in Gaul. The Lugdunum museum on Fourvière Hill presents archaeological discoveries from Roman Lyon, including mosaics, sculptures, inscriptions and everyday objects.
Next to the museum are the impressive remains of ancient Roman theatres, creating one of the most atmospheric historical sites in the city.
Best for: Ancient history, archaeology and Roman heritage.
Musée des Tissus et des Arts Décoratifs
Lyon has been internationally associated with silk and textiles for centuries. Its textile heritage reflects the importance of the city’s historic silk workers, known as the canuts, particularly in the Croix-Rousse district. Collections connected with Lyon’s textile and decorative arts traditions provide an insight into fabrics, craftsmanship, fashion and interior decoration.
Best for: Textiles, fashion, craftsmanship and Lyon’s silk heritage.
Centre d’Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation
Lyon played a major role in the French Resistance during the Second World War. The Centre d’Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation examines Lyon during the occupation, the Resistance movement and the experiences of people affected by persecution and deportation. Through documents, photographs, testimonies and historical material, the museum presents an important and moving chapter of the city’s history.
Best for: Second World War history and French Resistance history
