Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon

On Place des Terreaux, the former abbey of Saint-Pierre-les-Nonnains, better known as the Palais Saint-Pierre, has housed Lyon's Museum of Fine Arts since 1801. Paintings, sculptures, antiquities and works on paper sit side by side under one roof. It is a natural stop in the heart of the city, as pleasant on a rainy day as for a cultural pause between two walks.

An abbey turned museum

The museum occupies the former Benedictine abbey of Saint-Pierre-les-Nonnains, active in the 17th and 18th centuries. Open since 1801, it is among the first museums in France after the Louvre. The building was restored between 1988 and 1998, and the museum stayed open to visitors throughout the works, a small detail that says a lot about Lyon's attachment to the place.

The main collections

The collections bring together paintings, sculptures, antiquities, art objects, coins and medals, as well as drawings and engravings. This variety lets you build your visit as you wish: a tour through the periods, a stroll from room to room or a pause in front of a few chosen works. According to a German-language source, everything is displayed across 70 galleries.

A setting in the city centre

The museum faces Place des Terreaux, in the heart of central Lyon, easy to reach on foot from the Presqu'île and well served by public transport. It lends itself to a visit combined with a stroll through the surrounding streets: arrive, visit, then carry on into the nearby districts for a coffee or lunch.

How to visit

Listed hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday 10am to 6pm; Friday 10:30am to 6pm; closed on Tuesday according to these hours. The official website is mba-lyon.fr and the phone number +33 4 72 10 17 40. Check before you come, especially on public holidays. Allow one to two hours for a comfortable visit.