Lyon Attractions
International Puppet Museum © www.museegadagne.com
Historical Museum of Lyon & International Puppet Museum
To the right of the river Saône lies the Hôtel
Gadagne, one of the most prestigious Renaissance mansions in Lyon.
It was built between 1511 and 1527 for the two sons of a spice
merchant but fell into the hands of the prominent Gadagne family in
1545. Being rich Florentine bankers, they threw many extravagant
parties, infamously linking their name to the mansion. In 1902 the
city of Lyon bought the mansion and in 1921 the Historical Museum
was installed on the premises. It wasn't until 1950 that the
International Puppet Museum became an additional attraction to the
mansion's contents. The Gadagne Museum houses paintings, sculptures
and furniture, as well as archaeological relics dating back from
the Middle Ages to the 19th century, illustrating Lyon's vast
history. The International Puppet Museum displays hand puppets,
stick puppets, marionette puppets and sliding bar puppets
originating from countries such as Japan, Cambodia, England, Italy,
Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Russia.
Address: 1 Place du Petit College;
E-mail: gadagne@mairie-lyon.fr;
Website: www.museegadagne.com;
Telephone: (0)4 7842 0361;
Opening time: Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 6.30pm;
Admission: €6 (adult), children under 18 free
