Musée des Confluences, Lyon: All Year

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A natural science and anthropology museum in a modern, eye-catching building in Lyon's newest developed neighbourhood: Confluence.

In case you’re not already aware, a confluence is where two rivers meet. So unsurprisingly this museum was built where the Rhône and Saône rivers join at the southern tip of Presqu'île, in Lyon’s newest neighbourhood. The confluence area is worth a visit in its own right; until 2003, it was just an industrial wasteland, but it then succumbed to one of France’s biggest urban developments and is now associated with cutting-edge and eye-catching architecture, sharply contrasting the traditional Renaissance buildings of Vieux Lyon just 20 minutes away.

One of Lyon's best and most exciting museums, the Musée des Confluences, is a good example of the exemplary architecture in the area with its striking geometrical structure of glass and steel, which can be seen from as much as a mile away.The original exterior is matched by the exhibitions found inside: the permanent natural science and anthropology collections deal with the interesting questions of who we are and where we come from. These collections are split into rooms: 'Origins: the stories of the world', 'Species: the network of life', 'Societies: the theatre of mankind' and 'Eternities: visions of the afterlife'. A combination of artefacts, instructional videos and interactive features tell the story of our planet and the human race in an innovative and exciting way that both kids and grownups can learn from.

Musée des Confluences

86 Quai Perrache, 69002 Lyon