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Key figures

Origin and history

The Guimet Museum finds its origin in the project of Émile Guimet, a Lyon industrialist passionate about ancient religions and civilizations. After traveling to Egypt, Greece, and then a tour of the world in 1876 (Japan, China, India), he gathered collections which he first exhibited in Lyon in 1879. His ambition led him to build a museum in Paris, inaugurated in 1889 at the Universal Exhibition, to present his Asian and Egyptian treasures.

In 1927, the museum was attached to the Musées de France and enriched with the discoveries of expeditions to Central Asia, such as those of Paul Pelliot or Édouard Chavannes. It also includes the works of the Indochinese Museum of Trocadéro and the French archaeological depots of Afghanistan. Under the direction of Joseph Hackin, the museum was transformed: the central courtyard was covered in 1938 to exhibit Khmer collections, consolidating its reputation in indianized art.

From 1945, a national reorganization transferred Egyptian pieces from the museum to the Louvre, while Guimet recovered the entire Asian arts department from the Louvre. This change makes it one of the largest Asian art museums in the world. Donors and public funds then contribute to the continuous enrichment of its collections, including a 110,000-volume library and a 350,000-photo library.

The building, inspired by neo-classicism, reproduces the one designed by architect Jules Chatron for Lyon in 1879. Its neo-Greek style, typical of 19th century temple museums, is marked by an imposing corner tower serving as a vestibule and library. Between 1996 and 2001, architects Henri and Bruno Gaudin redesigned the 5,500 m2 of galleries to focus on natural light and open perspectives, thus modernising the space while respecting its heritage.

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