Decorative Arts and Textile Museum, Lyon

The Decorative Arts and Textile Museum is located within the charming Hôtel de Villeroy, formerly the residence of the Governor of Lyon. Established in 1864, the Textile Museum boasts one of the world's most extensive collections, spanning 4000 years of textile history and featuring over 2 million artifacts dating from the 15th century BC to the present day.

The museum is divided into two main sections: Occident and Orient. The Occident section showcases costumes, embroideries, and religious textiles from France, Italy, and Spain. On the other hand, the Orient section offers a glimpse of Coptic Egyptian tapestries, Sassanid Persian fabrics, Chinese and Japanese silks, along with an impressive assortment of Islamic rugs that showcase the evolution of rug-making.

Complementing the Textile Museum is the Decorative Arts Museum, inaugurated in 1925. Designed to resemble an 18th-century private residence, its walls are adorned with 15th and 16th-century tapestries, while Byzantine rugs grace the floors. The furniture within the museum is the handiwork of renowned cabinet-makers from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Visitors can also admire exquisite examples of silversmith craftsmanship, earthenware artifacts, paintings, and an outstanding collection of clocks. For those with a taste for more contemporary artistry, there is a display of silverware ranging from the 1960s to the present day.