Confluences Museum : info and guided tour

Introduction to the Musée des Confluences

Located at the southern tip of Lyon’s Presqu’île, the Musée des Confluences is Lyon’s major museum of science and society. It brings together collections of natural sciences, anthropology, and the history of technology in a visitor route designed to connect knowledge, around the big questions concerning the origin and evolution of the world.

The building, located at 86 Quai Perrache, stands out for its spectacular glass-and-metal architecture, both angular and translucent. Often nicknamed “the Crystal Cloud,” it forms a major landmark at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône, where the museum is fully integrated into Lyon’s urban landscape.

The museum is famous for its permanent and temporary exhibitions that bring together objects, fossils, taxidermied animals, world cultures, and technical artifacts. This very broad approach makes it a place of discovery accessible to everyone, where you can see emblematic pieces that tell the story of the Earth, human societies, and their exchanges.

Its identity is based as much on the content as on the setting: contemporary scenography, open spaces, and views over the city and the rivers. In Lyon, the Musée des Confluences has established itself as an essential cultural destination for understanding the meeting point between heritage, science, and contemporary architecture.

Discover Lyon with a private guide

A private guide can help you better understand the collections, place the museum in Lyon’s cultural history, and spot the architectural details that are often missed during a self-guided visit. Their guidance provides clear insight into the meaning of the objects and the uniqueness of the site in the Confluence district.