Musée Paul-Dini

Musée Paul-Dini is an art museum in Villefranche-sur-Saône occupying two separate buildings: the former grain hall called Grenette and the converted textile factory known as Cornil. Together these spaces display more than 1,400 artworks across painting, sculpture, photography, and drawing.

The museum was founded in 1863 under Mayor Jean-Baptiste Boiron and lawyer Loyson de Chastelus who shaped its early direction. A major transformation came in 2001 when substantial donations from Muguette and Paul Dini enlarged the collection and gave the museum its current name.

The collection features artists from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region whose work reflects local artistic traditions and connections to the area. Visitors encounter the creative voice of this part of France through paintings, sculptures, and photographs that show regional artistic development.

The museum sits about 20 minutes north of Lyon and is easily accessible from the city. It features an art library with more than 6,000 specialized books and offers guided tours on Sundays for those wanting deeper insight into the collection.

Through the museum's artothèque program, visitors can borrow original contemporary artworks to display at home for a period of time. This makes original art accessible to the public and lets people explore which pieces resonate with them without making a purchase.

Location: Villefranche-sur-Saône

Website: http://musee-paul-dini.com

GPS coordinates: 45.99087,4.72117

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:05