Museum of the History of Lyon - Gadagne Museums

Located in the heart of Vieux Lyon, the Gadagne ensemble is a magnificent Renaissance structure that houses two major museums: the museum of the history of Lyon and the museum of puppets of the world. Thanks to an approach that presents the overall picture, from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, the museum of the history of Lyon is a resource that encompasses the city and all its facets.

The visitor then travels back through Lyon's history: Antiquity, Middle Ages, Renaissance, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. A presentation of the landmarks in Lyon's territorial and urban development enable an understanding of changes and specific features in the city's economic, social, religious and cultural landscape. 

Become an expert on Lyon thanks to the Lyon History Museum (MHL)

The museum is the perfect place to start your exploration of the city and all its facets, including the social, political, urban, cultural and economic aspects. In fact, the museum became the Museum of History and Society in 2023. Opened in 1921, the museum's collection comprises 80,000 items, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, manuscripts, artefacts, medals and drawings.

Lyon, a city of many faces, awaits you! By turns a city of silk, banking, workers’ revolts and the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône, it has many stories to tell. 

The permanent exhibitions at the Lyon History Museum 

In recent years, the museum has reinvented itself by reorganising and modernising the presentation of its collections in the form of a new permanent exhibition comprising four separate exhibitions that tell the story of Lyon in a chronological and thematic manner. 

With fun videos and animations, this new space is a destination for both families and the general public, whether it helps a visitor to better understand the city or for a resident of Lyon to reflect on his or her urban identity.