Musée Paul-Dini
Municipal art museum of Villefranche-sur-Saône, spread across the Halle Grenette and the Espace Cornil, built around the donations of Muguette and Paul Dini.
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About the museum
The municipal museum of Villefranche-sur-Saône was founded in 1863 thanks to donations, loans of works from the State and a few purchases. Its collections were initially varied: fine arts, archaeology, mineralogy, furniture and non-European objects. In 1893 it moved into the Halle Grenette, a former grain hall. Neglected from the 1950s onward, it closed in 1978 and the collections were put into storage.
In 1999 Muguette and Paul Dini gave the city part of their collection of modern and contemporary art, which made the museum's revival possible. The Halle Grenette was completely renovated while keeping its façades, and the Musée municipal Paul-Dini opened in June 2001. In October 2005 a second exhibition space, the Espace Cornil, opened nearby in the former premises of a textile manufacturer, whose industrial architecture was preserved.
Today the museum presents its permanent display on the upper floor of the Grenette, with multisensory visiting tools, as well as temporary exhibitions in both spaces. It also runs an art lending library (artothèque) and an art library.
Highlights
- Painting and modern art collection drawn from the donations of Muguette and Paul Dini
- Two spaces: the Halle Grenette and the Espace Cornil
- Permanent display with multisensory visiting tools
- Art lending library (Artothèque)
- Booklet and captions in easy-to-read French (FALC)
Permanent exhibition
- Parcours permanent du musée (étage de la halle Grenette) – A tour of the collections with multisensory visiting tools: a musical, poetic and digital trail, plus an opening to cultures from elsewhere.
- Founded
- 1863
- Operated by
- Ville de Villefranche-sur-Saône
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Young people aged 18 to 25, students, job seekers, large families, carers of disabled people, Friends of Museums, TER SNCF card holders and holders of other cards (proof required) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free for children under 18 accompanied by an adult. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission with a permanent disability card; the accompanying person pays the reduced rate. |
| Students & apprentices | €4Free for students of art history or of an art school. |
| Groups | –Group rates by reservation only; free self-guided visits for groups from the social sector, by reservation. |
| Adult pass (1 year) | €25Unlimited admission for one year and one guided tour per exhibition |
| Junior pass (1 year) | €15Activities of your choice for children |
| Family pass (1 year) | €35Reduced rate for two adults and activities of your choice |
| Commented tour for individual visitors (in addition to admission) | €3From October to June, two Sundays a month, duration 1 hour |
Free admission: First Sunday of every month
The admission ticket gives access to the rooms of the Espace Grenette and the Espace Cornil (permanent collection and temporary exhibitions).
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
- Audio description: no information
Both buildings are accessible via ramp and elevator. Wheelchairs and folding seats are lent free of charge. Captions and booklet are available in easy-to-read French (FALC).
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
The museum has been part of the “Musée Joyeux” network since 2023. Free games available to use (family cubes from age 3), a family area at the Espace Cornil with colouring books, books and games, a playful trail for each exhibition, story bags for ages 6 months to 5 years, storytelling visits, workshop visits for ages 6 to 8 and Artykids workshops for ages 9 to 13. Baby changing table in the toilets of both buildings.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Gare de Villefranche-sur-Saône · 10-min walk · 800 m
Villefranche-sur-Saône station is 800 m away; TCL bus network.
By car
Parking available
Ursulines car park nearby.
33 km north of Lyon: motorway A6, exit Villefranche-sur-Saône Centre, then follow signs for the town centre.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Shop: catalogues, posters, magnets and postcards.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Commented tours for individual visitors from October to June, two Sundays a month (limited to 25 participants, registration on site on the same day). Group bookings and activities: +33 4 74 68 33 70 or reservation.musee@villefranche.net. |
