The building housing the museum is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its typical Lyonnais traboule architecture.
The miniature collection includes recreations of famous local Parisian and Lyonnais bistros down to the smallest crumb.
Some of the displayed creature suits were used in major Hollywood blockbusters including Star Wars and Alien.
The miniature exhibits are crafted with high-fidelity materials, including real wood, glass, and metal, rather than plastic.
The museum holds a specialized collection documenting the manual labor and techniques involved in traditional movie special effects before the digital era.
The museum was founded by Dan Ohlmann, an artist and cabinetmaker who spent years refining the miniature techniques on display.
Musée Cinéma et Miniature is housed within the historic Maison des Avocats, a 16th-century building in the heart of Old Lyon. The museum showcases two distinct collections: a vast array of original film props and costumes, and an intricate selection of hyper-realistic miniature scenes. The cinema collection includes over 450 iconic props from international film productions, ranging from sci-fi creature suits to historical period costumes. The miniature collection features over 100 hyper-realistic displays created by master miniaturist Dan Ohlmann. These dioramas recreate urban life, domestic spaces, and workshops at a 1/12th scale. The museum spans several floors of a labyrinthine Renaissance-era structure featuring internal courtyards and wooden galleries. It serves as both a repository of film history and a showcase for the artistry of small-scale modeling.
The internal courtyard of the 16th-century Maison des Avocats provides a classic architectural backdrop before entering the galleries.
The museum is spread over multiple floors with many stairs; wear comfortable walking shoes.
Visit the upper floors first to work your way down, as the museum layout can be winding.
Check the official website for current rotating temporary exhibits before visiting.
Avoid visiting on rainy weekends when indoor attractions in Vieux Lyon become extremely crowded.
Open daily throughout the year including most public holidays.
Photography without flash is permitted; do not touch the exhibits or display cases.
