Musée Des Confluences

At the meeting point of the Rhône and Saône rivers in Lyon, the Musée des Confluences explores the connections between natural history, human societies and science. Its striking building, designed by the Austrian architecture firm Coop Himmelb(l)au, combines a glass structure known as the Crystal with an exhibition area called the Cloud. The museum’s collections span natural sciences and the humanities, bringing together fossils, minerals, animal specimens, archaeological finds and cultural objects from around the world. Its permanent exhibition is organised into four sections exploring the origins of the world, living species, human societies and beliefs about the afterlife. Temporary exhibitions introduce additional subjects and perspectives.