His story could be compared to that of the Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval, the work of a lifetime. His workshop worked tirelessly from 1840 to 1900. With no fewer than 400 sculptures depicting the world’s greatest masterpieces, we’ll leave you to calculate Antoine Brun’s incredible productivity… Needless to say, at the time there were no public libraries, let alone Google Images, so the work was carried out using the very first encyclopedias, as well as the illustrated press, which was developing at breakneck speed. Today, the museum offers visitors the chance to discover 170 sculptures, a real treasure trove that is not to be missed!
Antoine Brun, an extraordinary destiny for an equally astonishing museum
©CCLV
Born in 1822 in the small village of Sainte-Consorce, Antoine Brun was not destined to sculpt wood, let alone have a museum named after him that is still open in 2026. The son of farmers, he discovered a love for woodworking and set about reproducing the city of Lyon with a wood chisel… and his passion was born. He worked tirelessly until the end of his life to reproduce the greatest architectural masterpieces of our civilization… without ever leaving his native village!
A beautiful way to see that with a lot of patience, perseverance, and imagination, nothing is impossible. After his death, his collection underwent many twists and turns. With two world wars passing through, part of it was never found… but the 170 sculptures that make up the collection today are simply breathtaking.
A museum and its new Meccano exhibition
©CCLV and Auvergne Rhônes Alpes Tourisme
In addition to discovering this breathtaking work, the museum is hosting a “Meccano” exhibition until July 17, featuring large buildings, but this time reproduced in metal bars. The Eiffel Tower (of course), but also London Bridge, Notre-Dame de Paris, and even the Grande Roue de Lyon!
The icing on the cake is that admission is very inexpensive and supports a local organization that is not lacking in panache. In short, whether you’re team wood or team metal, you’ll find something to satisfy your curiosity. Open Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
📍 Musée Antoine Brun, 1 Rue Antoine Brun, 69280 Sainte-Consorce
⏰ Open Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
🎟️ €3 full price and €2 reduced price