People of Lyon!

New permanent exhibition: opened on December 2023

The fourth and final permanent exhibition in the new MHL layout, People of Lyon! tells a tale which centres on the inhabitants of Lyon, the political community that makes up the city.

Discover Lyon's unique political history, not only via the places and representatives of government authority but also through portraits of the citizens of Lyon who have fought in social and civic struggles, from the Mediaeval city to today’s Metropole.

Citizens – activists, militants

From the 1970s-1980s onwards, new forms of activism have been joining existing social and political struggles, making themselves seen in the streets and on the walls of the city. Immerse yourself in Lyon's origins with three examples of these movements: environmental protection, feminism, and defending the rights of foreign citizens.

Conflict: Lyon between war and crisis

Take a trip through various historical periods from the 16^th to the 20^th century, when the people of Lyon clashed in battles between the various powers (religious wars, French Revolution...) or fought together (Second World War, social struggles...).

A centrepiece of the collection: Le sac de Lyon par les calvinistes (The sack of Lyon by Calvinists)

This stunning allegorical painting depicts the moment when the Protestants seized power in Lyon in 1562. In this piece, painted in oil on wood around 1565, it is hard to make out any of Lyon's places or monuments. Only the inscriptions at the top and bottom of the painting identify Lyon as the location of the scene. Today, researchers are agreed that this piece is the work of a Reformist painter.

A fresco of urban prints on activism

The museum decided to ask Olivia Paroldi, engraver and creator of urban prints, to design an original piece especially for the exhibition. This fresco takes up an entire wall, an expressive work which depicts the various forms of activism and social struggles which have left their mark on the city of Lyon - and which continue to do so.