Musée des Confluences

The Musée des Confluences stands at the southern tip of the Presqu'île, the peninsula of Lyon, at the very point where the Saône meets the Rhône, and it is one of the most daring buildings in France. It was designed by the Austrian architectural firm Coop Himmelb(l)au, in a deconstructivist style, and opened in December 2014 after a long and costly construction. From a distance it looks like a spaceship or a crystal cloud landing on the riverbank: a transparent glass atrium, called the Crystal, is topped by a huge stainless steel structure, the Cloud, with sharp angles and strange curves. The name Confluences refers to the meeting of the two rivers, and also to the idea of the meeting of knowledge, cultures and sciences.

The museum is a museum of science and society, with collections that come from the former natural history museum of Lyon and from other sources, and the total holdings run to about two million objects. The permanent exhibition is organised in four large themes, each in a separate gallery: the origins of the universe and life, the diversity of species, the societies of humankind and their ways of living, and the ways in which humans think about death and eternity. Instead of sorting objects by discipline, the exhibits blend natural history, anthropology and technology, so a skeleton might stand next to a mask or a machine. The highlights include dinosaur skeletons, Egyptian mummies, minerals and a fine collection of objects from many cultures, such as samurai armour. Models of a Soviet satellite appear among the scientific items.

Temporary exhibitions are held several times a year, and the museum also stages shows, concerts and conferences. The building has terraces on the roof of the Cloud, reached by a lift and stairs, that give views over the confluence, the river banks and the city. The setting beside the water is particularly attractive, with a park along the edge of the rivers where many visitors stroll, and the neighbourhood, the Confluence district, is full of new architecture.

The museum opens late on some evenings, with the opening hours varying by day, and it is closed on Mondays. Tickets are cheaper in the late afternoon, and children enter free, so check the current conditions and book online to avoid queues. The museum is reached by tram T1 and several bus lines. A visit takes two to three hours.

It suits families, curious travellers and architecture lovers. In Lyon, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, the Cathédrale Saint-Jean and the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon offer a classical contrast.