Musée des Eaux de Lyon — Attraction in Lyon

This is an amazing place to visit in Lyon. The museum is a hidden gem of town. From outside it looks like an old unappealing building, but inside it's a beautiful museum that tells the story of water supply of the region of Lyon from the early history even before the French republic.

There are three things about this museum I would like to mention.

First is the collection of the exhibits and the history behind them. Starting from the collection of counters and ending up with a huge well preserved 32 tons steam pump that have actually been used to supply the city with water.

Second impressive thing about this place is the beauty of the exhibits and off parts accessible for the audience. The above-mentioned pump is still on its initial place of work, beautiful underground water storage reservoirs are still intact and functioning.

And of course I have to mention people who work there! They're not just guides or people who are working at the old water pump station, they are professionals of civil engineering and history, and, what makes the visits even better, they are enthusiasts of their work.

I came there with my wife out of a blue because I've seen some guide recommendation to visit hidden beautiful places of Lyon. Turned out that the place was close on summer for visitors, so guided tours are announced and planned via their website, nevertheless, people we crossed there were happy to talk about the water factory, to show is some exhibits and to allow us to visit the locals of the place.

But still, better book the tickets on the website to be sure that there will be the...

A fascinating history of a city's infrastructure told through water. Starting with Roman aqueducts that were in use for 6 centuries, it is truly amazing to follow the course of civilization through technologies for delivering water. The whole presentation runs a bit long and it was exclusively in French so it may not be for everyone. But, the exhibits and pictures speak volumes in...

C'est un peu de l'histoire humaine. L'eau c'est la vie. La visite commence du temps où Lyon était une ville assez unique car alimentée en eau, dans les premiers siècles sous Rome par des aqueducs. Il fallait attendre le milieu du 19 ème siècle pour retrouver la moitié, vous lisez bien, la moitié du volume délivré à la ville 16 siècles plus tôt. C'est cette usine qui assura l'approvisionnement en eau de Lyon dès 1853. Un grand merci au guide. Un petit musée des techniques. Une pompe à balancier de grande dimension, 20 mètres de haut, du temps où la vapeur animait nos technologies....