Initially an abbey of Benedictine nuns from noble descent, the sumptuous convent was converted in 1803 into an encyclopedic museum, which, according to the precepts in force at the time, housed the art objects confiscated by the revolutionaries in order to make them accessible to the greatest number.
Over time, the collections were enriched by donations from the State, patrons, public subscriptions and other bequests, to the point that the museum now boasts the title of Second Louvre!
Let’s enter this sacred palace which venerates today objects, sculptures, paintings having crossed the ages… Dazzling stroll guaranteed!
On June 19, 1940, Lyon was declared an open city: huge swastika flags replaced the French tricolor. On September 14, 1944, General de Gaulle proclaimed Lyon the capital of the Resistance… What happened between these two historic dates?
The scene of horrors but also of acts of heroism, the city suffered greatly, as did its inhabitants and all the underground fighters determined to say no to the German invader. There are many traces of this painful past, often overlooked because it was highly secret and lost in the maze of identities.
Let’s set out to discover them: whether it be places, squares, buildings, memorials, statues, plaques or street names, everything here tells the story of these women, these men who, in the face of adversity, showed exceptional courage in fighting fascism.
Did you know that in Lyon walls are painted in trompe-l’oeil to trick your eyes?
The most famous one is called: the wall of the Canuts; it is all about the life of these silk weavers who worked in terrible conditions on the Croix-Rousse hill in the 19th century.
Then comes a fresco with many celebrities who contributed to make Lyon a showcase for the whole world; did you know, among other things, that Lyon was the cradle of cinema thanks to the Lumière brothers?
Another example? The city’s library! Here, books are honored, a kind of homage to the printing press, thanks to which Lyon shone throughout Europe on an intellectual level during the Renaissance.
These works of art are scattered here and there in the city, embellishing its face, enhancing its heritage; they are waiting for you to tell you exciting stories!
