There are some wonderful museums in Lyon and they are all included in the City Card. The Musée des Confluences is a science museum in a striking purpose built futuristic building to the south of the city. If you are interested in the history of Lyon you should head for the Gadagne Museum in the Old Town and the Maison Des Canuts in La Croix-Rousse as well as the Lugdunum Museum [see below].
This museum overlooks the remains of the two Ancient Roman Theatres. [I have more on the Roman Theatres here]. It is actually built into Fourvière Hill and is designed to be nearly invisible from the outside. It’s a wonderful museum with displays and quality exhibits of the first Roman settlers. Some of the mosaics are just amazing and in such good condition. There are some windows offering superb views of the theatres and there are signs in English but I recommend using the audio guide which is included in the price of entry.
Above left- Head of Jupiter, 2nd century. Above right – Mosaic depicting Bacchus, 2nd-3rd century.
This magnificent museum is in the old family home of the Lumière brothers who were pioneers of early cinema and the inventors of the Cinematograph in 1895. There are exhibits of their family life, their inventions and the pioneering days of the cinema.
You can see a selection of their early films; some are really funny. It’s easy to get here by Metro, just take the line D and get off at Monplaisir Lumière, the museum/institut is just over the road opposite the Monument aux frères Lumière .
Le Petit Musée de Guignol [The Little Puppet Museum]
This is a teeny museum behind and beneath a puppet shop in the heart of the old town and it is stuffed [geddit!] full of freaky looking puppets staring at you. The Disney puppets were probably the most surreal. It was great to see that Punch and Judy were there waving the flag for us Brits.
I have to admit that I struggled with this museum a bit. Although I am a lover of cinema, blockbusters are not really my thing so many of the exhibits were not that interesting to me on a personal level. The museum was also overcrowded and it wasn’t a comfortable experience either. There are loads of props, designs and monsters on several levels to see. The top floor is dedicated to minatures which were incredibly detailed but I think this would have worked better as a smaller separate museum.
The Fine Arts Museum is based in a beautiful 17th century building that was once a Benedictine Convent and takes up one whole side of the wonderful Place des Terreaux. Paintings, sculptures, antiquities and exhibits from around the world are well presented.
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