Region
Museums, galleries and heritage in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
690 places to discover across Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Including Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière, Musée des Confluences and Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon.
60 of 86 places, sorted by distance from the center
MuseumMusée de l’Industrie textile
Vienne
MuseumMusée de l'Aviation Clément Ader
Corbas
MuseumMusée Maison de L'Araire
Yzeron
MuseumMausa H07 - Novacierie : Saint - Chamond
Saint-Chamond
MuseumInstitut Culturel du Judaïsme
Lyon
MuseumLe Petit Musée du Vin
Lyon
MuseumFort de Bron
Bron
MuseumLe Petit Musée de Guignol
Lyon
MuseumMusée de l'Imprimerie et de la Communication graphique
Lyon
MuseumLa Maison des Canuts
Lyon
MuseumMusée des Sapeurs-Pompiers
Lyon
MuseumMusée des Eaux de Lyon
Caluire-et-Cuire
MuseumMusée de la batellerie du Rhône
Serrières
MuseumAncienne Mine de Saint Pierre La Palud
Saint-Pierre-la-Palud
MuseumMusée de la Vie Rurale
Saint-Quentin-Fallavier
Musée du chapeau
Chazelles-sur-Lyon
MuseumMusée des Transports Urbains de Saint-Étienne et sa région
Saint-Priest-en-Jarez
MuseumMusée Henri Malartre
Rochetaillée-sur-Saône
MuseumMusée de la Mine - Couriot
Saint-Étienne
MuseumMusée de Chazay-d'Azergues
Chazay-d'Azergues
MuseumMusée Trévoux et ses Trésors
Trévoux
MuseumMusée du Tissage et de la Soierie
Bussières
MuseumMusée du Vieux Pérouges
Pérouges
MuseumMusée Histoire de la galoche
Val-de
MuseumChâteau de Boën - Musée des Vignerons du Forez
Boën-sur-Lignon
MuseumLa Manufacture du Haut-Beaujolais
Thizy-les-Bourgs
MuseumMusée du Train Miniature de Châtillon sur Chalaronne
Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne
MuseumMusée vie en 1900 de Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne
Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne
MuseumMusée du Cheminot
Ambérieu-en-Bugey
MuseumMusée de la Fourme et des Traditions
Sauvain
MuseumMusée des Traditions Bugistes
Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey
MuseumMusée « Mémoire d’Autrefois »
Ambronay
MuseumMusée des manufactures de dentelles
Retournac
MuseumMusée des Soieries Bonnet
Jujurieux
MuseumKim en Joong - Vitraux
Ambert
MuseumMus'énergie
Ambert
MuseumLa Cuivrerie de Cerdon
Cerdon
MuseumMusées de la soierie
Charlieu
MuseumMusée, Domaine des Saveurs - Les Planons
Saint-Cyr-sur-Menthon
MuseumMusée de la dentelle
Arlanc
MuseumMusée de la Grande-Chartreuse
Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse
MuseumMusée du Bugey-Valromey
Arvière-en-Valromey
MuseumMusée dauphinois
Grenoble
MuseumMusée de l'Ancien Évêché
Grenoble
MuseumMusée des Métiers et traditions
Olliergues
MuseumMusée Alice Taverne
Ambierle
MuseumEcomusée Maison de Pays en Bresse
Saint-Étienne-du-Bois
MuseumMaison Bergès - musée de la Houille blanche
Villard-Bonnot
MuseumMusée du Revermont
Val-Revermont
MuseumMusée de Rumilly
Rumilly
MuseumMusée de la Coutellerie
Thiers
MuseumMusée du peigne et de la plasturgie
Oyonnax
MuseumMusée Jadis Allevard
Allevard-les-Bains
MuseumLe "Petit Musée de Dédé"
Meyras
MuseumMusée Européen de l'Aviation de Chasse
Montélimar
MuseumMusée de la Vigne et du vin
Vieille-Brioude
MuseumConservatoire-musée des industries hydroélectriques
Vaujany
MuseumMusée Automobile de Brassac-les-Mines
Brassac-les-Mines
MuseumMusée du Patrimoine Rural
Le Donjon
MuseumVillage-Musée de la Combe de Savoie
Grésy-sur-Isère
A Region Shaped by History and Geology
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the result of a 2016 merger between two historically distinct territories, and its cultural landscape reflects this duality: the volcanic plateaus of Auvergne on one side, the industrial and Alpine dynamism of Rhône-Alpes on the other. Lyon, the region's capital, anchors this territory with two millennia of continuous urban history, from the Roman city of Lugdunum to its silk-weaving past.
The region's museum offer mirrors its economic history: L'Aventure Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand traces the rise of the tire industry, while the Musée de la Mine - Couriot in Saint-Étienne preserves the memory of the coal-mining basin that once powered this part of France.
Further south and east, mountain heritage takes over: the Musée Opinel in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne recounts the history of the iconic Savoyard folding knife, while the Palais de l'Île occupies a fortified islet in the middle of Annecy's canals.
Four Cities, Four Cultural Identities
Lyon concentrates the region's largest museum density, from the futuristic Musée des Confluences at the tip of the Presqu'île to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon on Place des Terreaux. The city's old town, listed as the Site historique de Lyon, is one of the largest Renaissance urban ensembles in Europe.
Grenoble pairs Alpine scenery with a strong art scene: the Musée de Grenoble holds one of France's finest modern art collections outside Paris, while the contemporary art space Le Magasin has long served as a laboratory for experimental exhibitions.
Clermont-Ferrand sits at the foot of the Chaîne des Puys - faille de Limagne, a UNESCO-listed volcanic landscape visible from the city center, while Saint-Étienne has rebuilt its post-industrial identity around design and contemporary art, notably through the gallery Galerie Ceysson & Bénétière.
Cinema, Photography and Contemporary Art
Lyon holds a unique place in the history of cinema: it was here, in 1895, that the Lumière brothers shot their first films. The Musée Lumière occupies the family's former residence in the Monplaisir district, while the Musée Cinéma et Miniature displays original props from major film productions inside a 15th-century building in Vieux Lyon.
Contemporary art finds several distinctive venues across the region: Musée d'Art Contemporain de Lyon (macLYON) presents rotating exhibitions in the Cité Internationale, while the more unconventional Musée l'Organe - La Demeure du Chaos near Lyon spreads over 9,000 m² of provocative installations assembled since 1999 by collector Thierry Ehrmann.
Lyon's gallery scene is dense and varied, from Galerie Françoise Besson, specialized in photography, to Krom Galerie and Galerie Masurel, both focused on contemporary painting and sculpture.
Frequently asked questions
How many days are needed to explore the museums of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes?
A long weekend covers Lyon's main museums, but a full week allows time to also reach Grenoble, Clermont-Ferrand and the Ardèche cave sites.
Which site should not be missed in the region?
The Grotte Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc in Ardèche is unique worldwide for its 36,000-year-old cave paintings, viewable through the Caverne du Pont-d'Arc replica nearby.
Is Lyon's old town worth visiting beyond its museums?
Yes, the Site historique de Lyon UNESCO listing covers one of Europe's largest Renaissance districts, with traboules (hidden passageways) worth exploring on foot.
What is the best time of year to visit the region?
Spring and early autumn suit both city museum visits and outdoor sites like the Chaîne des Puys, avoiding summer crowds in Lyon and winter snow in the Alps.
Are the museums in this region accessible for families with children?
Yes, venues such as the Musée des Confluences and Science Expériences Lyon are designed with interactive exhibits suited to children and families.
Can these sites be reached without a car?
Lyon, Grenoble, Clermont-Ferrand and Saint-Étienne are all connected by train, but rural sites like the Chauvet cave or the Chaîne des Puys are easier to reach with a car.