The Musée des Confluences in Lyon is a vast museum offering explorations of natural science, anthropology, earth sciences and the arts in an ultramodern building that stands 44 meters high, 150 meters long and 83 meters wide, with a total exhibition space of 6,500 square meters. In addition, the museum offers four discovery spaces and two auditoriums to offer additional features, lectures, speakers, and events.
The museum opened in 2014 and offers 9 exhibitions, 4 of which are permanent and 5 that rotate continuously. It's a fine example of the deconstructivist architectural style in the form of a floating cloud of crystal, glass and stainless steel.
Musée des Confluences in Lyon - one of the highlights of 10 Best Museums in Lyon (Read all about Lyon here)
photo by Andreabaschang (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified
What are the highlights of Musée des Confluences in Lyon?
The Musée des Confluences in Lyon has four regular exhibits exploring different aspects of science and culture. The first is "Origins,” which looks at the birth of the universe from the Big Bang and other possible origin theories, and the idea of early evolution. The second is "Species," which examines the way humans and animals are connected. The third, "Societies," looks at how communities are built and develop. Finally, "Eternities" examines how different societies approach the idea of the meaning of life.
The museum also hosts five rotating temporary exhibits. These cover different focused aspects of science, history and the arts.
photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified
What else is good to know about Musée des Confluences in Lyon?
The exhibition space in Musée des Confluences in Lyon is vast, so be sure to plan on enough time to explore, and wear comfortable shoes. The organization offers multilingual maps in French, English, Italian, Spanish and German. Booklets for children and parents are available onsite, and a digital guide can be downloaded.
The museum has an onsite shop where you can buy souvenirs, books, and educational information about the exhibits. Onsite restaurants also allow you to grab a beverage and a bite to eat between exploring. The museum is fully accessible to those with disabilities with wheelchairs available to loan.
Musée des Confluences in Lyon
Location: 86 Quai Perrache, 69002 Lyon, France
Open: Monday–Sunday from 10.30 am to 6.30 pm
Phone: +33 (0) 4 28 38 12 12
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