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Antiquaille to discover the history of Christianity in Lyon, using all the latest techniques.
Lyon's long history with Christianity dates back to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, when the capital of Gaul was home to a large Christian community. In 177 AD, the Christians of Lugdunum were martyred by the Romans. Among the martyrs, whose names are inscribed in the crypt of the Antiquaille, is Saint Pothin, the first bishop of Lyon, whose probable and disastrous dungeon was transformed into a place of worship by Pope Pius VII, before becoming a chapel to welcome numerous pilgrims. L'Antiquaille owes its rather strange name to Pierre Sala, who, in the 16th century, wanted to build a "house in the fields" and uncovered the Gallo-Roman remains of this exceptional site. It wasn't until the early 2000s, however, that the Antiquaille site, which had often been undermined, saw the development of a project to create an "Espace du Christianisme à Lyon" to showcase its history. After a major restoration project, visitors can now discover the history of Christianity in Lyon in a lively way, using all the latest techniques (film projections, videos, iconography...) in an incredible setting. Around the cloister, 15 rooms reveal the keys to a twenty-century-old history. An animated journey through the history of Christianity, to the dungeon of Saint Pothin and the famous mosaic crypt with the names of the martyrs. A unique site that takes us on a journey back in time, but which can also have contemporary resonances on man's barbarity in the face of religion.
Further information
Opening time and information on THE ANTIQUAIL
Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm; Sunday, 2 pm to 6 pm. Free for children under 6. Adults: €8. Children (6 to 18 years): €5. Family (2 adults with 2 children): €20.
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Members' reviews on THE ANTIQUAIL
Points d'intérêt principaux: le cachot présumé de saint Pothin ainsi que la crypte et ses fresques.
L'Espace s'articule autour des très grandes lignes de l'histoire du christianisme, notamment à Lyon.
À noter qu'il s'agit d'un espace culturel et non d'un musée. Ainsi, il y a fort peu d'oeuvres et surtout des installations à visée éducative (écriteaux, vidéos, cartes) à destination d'un public familial et plutôt d'affinités chrétiennes.
Durée de la visite : 1h30 pour les plus consciencieux.