Musée des Tissus

About the museum

The museum was born from the wish of Lyon's silk manufacturers, who, after the London Exhibition of 1851, wanted to better train designers in the city. The project was approved in 1856, and the Musée d'Art et d'Industrie opened in the Palais du Commerce on March 6, 1864. The Chamber of Commerce financed purchases and excavations, notably at Antinoé in Egypt. In 1891 the museum became the Musée historique des Tissus.

In 1925 a museum of decorative arts was created in the Hôtel de Lacroix-Laval, built between 1738 and 1754. During the Second World War the collections were sheltered in châteaux, then returned to Lyon in 1945. In 1950 the museum moved into the Hôtel de Villeroy, built in 1729, at 34 rue de la Charité. The two hôtels have formed a single ensemble since 1925.

The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region became the owner of both hôtels in 2018. The museum has been closed to the public since April 30, 2021 for a major renewal project called Horizon 2028. The project envisages two new buildings designed by the architect Rudy Ricciotti, the restoration of the hôtels and garden, a new permanent circuit, a café and a shop.

The collections cover 4,500 years of textile history, from antiquity to the present day. They also include decorative arts, such as clocks, vases, furniture and a harpsichord from 1716. During the closure, the museum offers lectures, workshops and urban walks outside its walls, and lends works to other institutions.

Highlights

• Textile collections covering 4,500 years, from antiquity to the present day
• The “Tenture aux poissons” and “Tenture aux colombes”, major pieces of the collection
• Decorative arts: clocks, furniture, vases and a harpsichord from 1716
• Two 18th-century mansions, Villeroy and Lacroix-Laval

Founded

1864

Operated by

Groupement d'intérêt public réunissant la Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, la CCI Lyon Métropole Saint-Étienne Roanne et l'Union Interentreprises Textiles

Admission & discounts

The museum is closed to the public for works; no reopening date has been published.

Accessibility

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

The programme “Les sens en émoi” offers sensory activities outside the museum, based on the collections, for people with disabilities, for example a tactile and olfactory workshop and creative workshops.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Activities for young audiences are offered outside the museum while it is closed.

Getting there & parking

The museum is closed to the public for works; no reopening date has been published.

Amenities & dining

A café with a terrace in the courtyard of the Hôtel de Villeroy is in place; a shop and a restaurant are planned for the future museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum is closed to the public for works; no reopening date has been published.

Plan your visit