Museums in Lyon: Confluences

The Museum of Confluences (le Musée des Confluences) is an anthropology museum and one of those places in Lyon that you should absolutely put on your must-see list. Opened in 2014 and located at the confluence of the rivers Rhone and Saone, this museum is a vibrant cultural place hosted in the most incredible building. Made to look like a floating crystal cloud, this place is a remarkable example of postmodern architecture. The permanent exhibitions at this site are no less fascinating. They deal with some great questions such as the origin of the universe, the evolution of different species and the meaning of life. This place is also suitable for children and families, as the Museum of Confluences proposes many activities specially crafted for them.

Musée des Confluences de Lyon

86 Quai Perrache, 69002 Lyon, France

About the Confluences

In July 1999, the French authorities decided to lunch a project to create a new museum in Lyon. They were looking for a new place to host the collections of the old Museum of Natural History. After numerous problems, this new museum was finally inaugurated in December 2014. This real architectural masterpiece is 190 meters long, 90 wide, and 41 meters high. It is imagined as an ensemble of "Crystal" and "Cloud" laid on a concrete "Base". The "Base" is an open space where you can find a vast auditorium. The "Crystal" is entirely glazed and offers access to a bookstore and a documentary center. The "Cloud" hosts permanent and temporary exhibitions. In May 2011, the French Ministry of Culture and Communication titled the Museum of Confluences - the "Museum of France." This title is given only to the leading French museums in France.

The museum collection

The collection of the Museum of Confluences comes mainly from the old Museum of Natural History in Lyon and includes many objects of natural science and anthropology. For example, in this museum, you can see the mammoth of Choulans, a mammoth skeleton discovered in 1859 near Lyon, as well as some 3,000 other interesting objects. One of the permanent exhibitions is called: "Origins - Stories of the World". This setting explains the Big Bang Theory, the history of the universe, and the evolution of humans. Other major exhibitions are: "Species - the Web of Life", "Societies - Human Theater," and "Eternities - Visions of the Beyond".

Practical information

The Museum of Confluences, one of the most impressive museums in Lyon, is open every day except on Mondays. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, this museum is open from 11 am to 7 pm and on weekends from 10 am to 7 pm. On Thursdays, the opening time is from 11 am to 10 pm. The entrance for adults is 9 euros, but this museum is free of charge for all under 18, and students under 26 years.