Manécanterie, Religious building and museum in Saint-Jean quarter, Lyon, France.
The Manecanterie is a building next to Saint-Jean Cathedral with a Romanesque facade decorated with intricate stone carvings and geometric patterns in brick. Today it functions as a museum holding liturgical objects spanning from Byzantine times to the 20th century, including sacred books, jewelry, vestments, and woven textiles.
Built in the 12th century, the building first served as a dining hall for cathedral canons and later became a school for training choir singers. Over time, its purpose shifted toward preservation and display of religious artworks and objects.
The facade displays sculptures of saints linked to different fields of knowledge: religion, music, geometry, and astronomy. These figures reflect what subjects were considered important for training clergy members.
Visits work best on weekdays, though opening hours can vary throughout the year. It is wise to confirm access times in advance, as the building may sometimes be open only for guided tours or special viewings.
The building survived the 1562 Protestant siege of the city, though the saint sculptures on its facade were severely damaged in the fighting. Visible scars from this destruction remain on some of the stonework today.
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