Cinema and Miniature Museum: reviews and practical tips

+21
recos
4.6/5 5 reviews
60 Rue Saint-Jean, 69005 Lyon, France
60 Rue Saint-Jean, 69005 Lyon, France
Musée des Miniatures et du Cinéma
Men in Black
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Visiting the Cinema and Miniature Museum

If you have an interest in film and find yourself in Lyon, the Cinema and Miniature Museum is a stop you should not miss.

History

This private museum is housed in a historic landmark building on rue Saint-Jean. It was founded in 2005 by miniaturist artist Dan Ohlmann. As an avid collector of movie memorabilia, he wanted to share his passion through this unique space.

In 2021, he handed over management to his friend Julien Dumont, a producer, director, and collector. Given his background in founding a special effects company, you can expect the collections to keep growing with new acquisitions.

The Cinema and Miniature Museum

The museum is split into two distinct sections. The first is a treasure trove for film buffs, featuring props, scale models, costumes, and masks from iconic movies. Every item in the collection is an authentic piece used on set, not a replica. You can see Mary Poppins' umbrella, the Chucky doll, the Hellboy costume, the Robocop armor, and the mask from The Mask. In total, more than 500 cult movie objects are on display, including a full-sized Alien queen.

The second part of the museum is dedicated to miniatures. On the top floor, you will find works by Dan Ohlmann and other artists, including 1/12 scale miniatures of impressive realism. These scenes depict daily life in Lyon with unsettling precision. You will also find over a thousand works by miniaturists from around the world. It is a place that celebrates pure dexterity and patience.

This is a Lyon highlight that is well worth the time.

Opening hours

Open from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Hours are indicative and subject to change

Reviews of Cinema and Miniature Museum

Add my review
Summary of 5 reviews
4.6/5
Average rating
+21
Total recommendations

Ratings by visit type

With family
4.6
As a couple
4.8
With friends
4.6

Avygeo ranking

#156
in the world
#143
in Europe
#75
in France
#2
in Lyon

Great for the whole family

We were very pleasantly surprised during our visit to this museum. First off, discovering some movie wonders, like sets, costumes, and props (special mention for the Back to the Future props). As someone who has watched these movies, sometimes multiple times, it was fascinating to see all these items. Then, the world of miniatures opens up to us. An exceptional attention to detail, with some really beautiful lighting. We were not expecting to have such a great time as a family. We will definitely go back without a doubt!

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Pleasantly surprised!

My wife and I were wandering through the (magnificent) city center of Lyon when we stumbled upon this museum that is, to say the least, atypical. We aren't especially big fans of cinema, but the objects on display are very diverse, and some are even quite scary. The miniature section appealed to me a little less, but it is still nice to visit.

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Every detail counts

I love miniatures and scale models, so I couldn't miss this museum. The miniatures are just fascinating. I loved taking the time to look at them and admire every little detail. Nothing is left to chance. For the cinema part, you find props and movie sets. It is pretty nice and entertaining. In short, a great place to have a good time with the family.

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A fabulous jumble

While the museum's very unique exterior architecture catches your eye, the interior is even more mind-boggling. As a film buff, I was curious about this museum, but I was not expecting such a rich collection of costumes, sets, and figurines that delighted me by plunging me into the behind-the-scenes world of cinema. The items are sometimes so piled up that it is hard to see everything. The highlight of the visit remains the life-size alien queen, which moves and makes sounds. A heads-up for kids, it is pretty scary.

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Nice for the family

Dozens of miniature scenes with super realistic sets and figurines. A ton of little details that are fun to discover, and the kids love it.
The other part of the museum is the movie sets. These are still handmade sets, but this time in full size, though not always exactly, because the camera can play with perspectives.

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