Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon

About the museum

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon occupies the royal abbey of the Dames de Saint-Pierre, a very old monastery rebuilt from 1659 by the architects Royers de la Valfenière around an Italian-style cloister. It survived the Revolution thanks to its proximity to the Hôtel de Ville, and in 1792 the abbey was designated as a place to keep works of art. The Chaptal decree of 1801 is the founding act of the museum, which from 1803 received a series of paintings sent by the state, notably from the Louvre.

In the 19th century the building also housed other institutions, such as the stock exchange, the chamber of commerce and the School of Fine Arts. The architects Dardel and then Hirsch remodelled the rooms; the monumental staircase was decorated in 1881 by Puvis de Chavannes. The church of Saint-Pierre, deconsecrated in 1907, was assigned to the museum, and the last major renovation dates from the 1990s.

Today the museum presents five departments across some 7,000 m² and 70 rooms: antiquities, objets d’art, paintings, sculpture, coins and medals, alongside works on paper. It offers an overview of 5,000 years of art history, from ancient Egypt to modern art, with a sculpture garden in the former cloister.

Highlights

• Kore from ancient Greece
• The Flight into Egypt by Nicolas Poussin
• The Rough Sea at Étretat by Claude Monet
• Fleur des champs by Louis Janmot
• Sculpture garden in the cloister and the staircase by Puvis de Chavannes
• Coin cabinet with nearly 50,000 coins and medals

Permanent exhibitions

• Collections d'antiquités égyptiennes et gréco-romaines – More than 8,000 antiquities from pharaonic Egypt to the Roman Empire, including the Greek Kore.
• Peintures et sculptures du Moyen Âge à l'art moderne – Painting (around 3,000 works) and sculpture departments, from Perugino to Picasso, with the 19th-century Lyon school and the avant-gardes.

Founded

1801

Operated by

Ville de Lyon

Admission & discounts

Free with proof for job seekers, recipients of minimum social benefits, non-taxable persons, members of the Friends of the Museum, holders of Lyon Musées, Lyon Culture, ICOM or press cards, and several other categories. A macLYON ticket less than six months old entitles the holder to the reduced rate, and vice versa. The two sculptures Le Rhône and La Saône by the Coustou brothers on the first floor are free to access. Online booking is recommended.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The collection and exhibition rooms are accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, who are welcomed at 17 place des Terreaux. Lifts (two people at most) are available, with staff assistance. Two wheelchairs are lent at reception. It is recommended to announce your visit by phone Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00. Services are available for motor, hearing, visual and psychological disabilities.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Family visits for 18 months to 3 years, 3 to 5 years and 6 to 12 years; three free puzzle booklets, Nino’s riddles (ages 7 to 12), room sheets “Il était une fois” and a children’s audio guide (45 minutes, ages 7 to 12).

Getting there & parking

Since June 21, a limited traffic zone (ZTL) has been in place around the museum. Vélo’v bike stations nearby: Terreaux / Terme, Terreaux / Chenavard, Herriot / Pizay and Meissonier.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Tearoom-restaurant Les Éclaireurs Pâtissiers (daily from 10:00 to 17:45, except Tuesdays), with a room decorated by Raoul Dufy and a terrace overlooking the garden. Grand Palais Rmn bookshop. Self-service cloakrooms under the cloister; bulky luggage and electric bicycle batteries are prohibited.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Reception rooms and auditorium for companies (in return for patronage or private hire); brochure available to download from the website.

Plan your visit