One of Europe’s largest art museums, the Lyon Museum of Fine Arts offers visitors a grand survey of art history. Its collection, displayed across more than 70 galleries and encompassing 5,000 years of history, comprises everything from Egyptian sarcophagi and centuries-old medals and coins to Renaissance masterworks and 20th-century paintings. The museum itself is an architectural icon thanks to its spectacular convent setting.
The Lyon Museum of Fine Arts is included in the convenient Lyon City Card. For a more educational visit, book a private tour or contact the museum in advance to arrange a tour with a docent.
Poised just next to Lyon’s lovely Place des Terreaux square, the Lyon Museum of Fine Arts is located in the city’s 1st arrondissement. If traveling by the metro, take line C to Croix-Paquet or line A to Cordeliers.
The museum is open daily except on Tuesdays and public holidays. The last admission of the day is 30 minutes prior to closing time. As the museum hosts a regular schedule of temporary exhibitions, it’s worth planning repeat visits.
The Lyon Museum of Fine Arts is home to a variety of rarities and masterpieces. Particular highlights include the Cloth of St. Gereon (one of Europe’s oldest existing tapestries), several sculptures by Rodin, paintings by Veronese and Tintoretto, modernist works by Picasso and Braque, and much more.
