Built into the Fourvière hillside, the Lugdunum museum presents one of the richest collections of Gallo-Roman artefacts in France, including the famous bronze Table of Claudius, fine mosaics, and everyday objects from Roman Lyon.
Built into the southern slope of the Fourvière hill and opened in 1975 to a design by architect Bernard Zehrfuss, the Musée Gallo-Romain de Lugdunum presents one of the richest collections of Gallo-Roman artefacts in France in a purpose-built museum that descends six floors through the hillside, its terraced galleries lit by rooflights that allow natural illumination of the ancient material. The museum occupies a site adjacent to the Roman theatres and directly above the archaeological strata of ancient Lugdunum, the colony founded in 43 BCE that served as capital of the Three Gauls under the Roman imperial administration.
The collection's undisputed centrepiece is the Table of Claudius, two large bronze tablets inscribed with the text of Emperor Claudius's speech to the Roman Senate in 48 CE, in which he argued for granting the Gauls the right to hold senatorial office. Discovered in Lyon in 1528, the tablets represent one of the most significant surviving epigraphic documents of Roman imperial governance and a turning point in the legal integration of Gallic subjects into the Roman state.
Beyond the Table, the permanent collection encompasses exceptional floor mosaics recovered from aristocratic townhouses of Roman Lugdunum, including multi-figured mythological compositions in fine tesserae; glassware from the 1st and 2nd centuries; a large collection of everyday bronze, ceramic, and bone objects illustrating domestic life; funerary stelae and architectural sculpture; and a series of inscriptions recording the religious, social, and commercial activities of the Roman city. The museum's curatorial approach is largely chronological, leading visitors from the pre-Roman Allobrogian settlements through the foundation and height of Lugdunum to the late antique period.
The building was renovated and extended in the early 2000s, and the collections are displayed with clear labelling. The museum is managed by the Metropolis of Lyon and is located a short walk from the Roman theatres, making the two sites natural companions for a half-day exploration of Roman Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Why it matters
Lugdunum was the Roman capital of the Three Gauls, and the museum's centrepiece — the Table of Claudius — is the bronze inscription of Emperor Claudius's 48 CE senate speech granting the Gauls the right to hold Roman office, a pivotal moment in Rome's integration of conquered peoples.
Location
17 Rue Cléberg, 69005 Lyon
45.7617, 4.8232 View on map
Highlights
- Table of Claudius — original bronze tablets recording the emperor's 48 CE senate speech, one of Rome's most important surviving inscriptions
- Roman floor mosaics — large multi-figured mythological compositions from Lugdunum's aristocratic townhouses
- Everyday life gallery — 1st- and 2nd-century bronzeware, glassware, and domestic objects from ancient Lyon households
- Zehrfuss building — six subterranean terraced floors descending into the Fourvière hillside, with natural rooflighting throughout
- Free first-Sunday entry — admission waived on the first Sunday of each month
Tips for visiting
- Begin at the top floor and descend chronologically through the galleries to follow Lugdunum's history from pre-Roman settlement to late antiquity
- Allow extra time at the Table of Claudius; the bronze tablets are large and the Latin text is extensively annotated in nearby display panels
- Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month — arrive early to avoid queues at this popular free-entry day
- Combine with the Roman theatres immediately adjacent (free entry) for a complete Fourvière archaeological circuit
- An audio guide is available in French, English, and Italian at the reception desk for a small supplement
Frequently asked questions
How long does a full visit take?
A thorough visit covering the permanent collection takes approximately 1.5–2 hours. Combined with the Roman theatres next door, allow a full half-day for the Fourvière archaeological complex.
Is the museum accessible in English?
The museum offers an English-language audio guide and key labels are in both French and English. The audio guide covers major objects including the Table of Claudius in detail.
Is the museum suitable for children?
Yes. The museum provides activity sheets for children in French, and the mosaics and everyday Roman objects tend to engage younger visitors well. The building's descending terraced architecture is also visually striking.
Is there free admission?
Admission is €4.50 for adults, with free entry on the first Sunday of each month. Children under 18 and EU residents under 26 are admitted free year-round.