Fodor's Expert Review Musée des Tissus et Musée des Arts Décoratifs
One of France's most extensive collections of decorative arts and the world's largest textile collection—spanning 4,500 years and comprising nearly 2 million pieces—has now added a shimmering €60 million addition by French architect Rudy Ricciotti, a third building to the museum's two 18th-century structures. The undulating glass and concrete tower combines light and transparency to convey the delicacy and movement of the historic fabrics that document Lyon's once-flourishing silk industry, from the Renaissance period to its 20th-century demise. Other highlights include Asian tapestries from as early as the 4th century, Turkish and Persian carpets from the 16th to the 18th centuries, and the sumptuous world-famous Lyon silks. Visitors can also enjoy a library, an auditorium, the Lacroix Laval garden, and a luminous rooftop restaurant.