Where knowledge meets preservation stands the Centre Louis Lortet. It is a key part of Lyon’s cultural landscape. This center plays a vital role. It is a treasure trove of knowledge and preservation.
The Centre Louis Lortet serves two important purposes. It safeguards the museum’s collections and shares knowledge with the world. Imagine rooms designed to quarantine and disinfect items. They use cutting-edge methods like cold temperatures or anoxia.
Each year, over 400 students and scientists visit the Centre Louis Lortet. They come from France and abroad. The center becomes their workspace. It offers tools for research. Consultation rooms boast tables, binocular magnifying glasses and microscopes. One magnifying glass even takes photos and recombines images. Wi-Fi is available. Researchers can access the collection database.
But the Centre Louis Lortet offers more than just research space. It features a molding workshop. Here, skilled artisans create reproductions for researchers. They make safety duplicates of unique pieces. These facsimiles allow the public to experience history firsthand. Educators can use them to engage visitors.
Louis Charles Émile Lortet significantly shaped science. Born in Lyon, he excelled as a doctor, botanist and more. He directed Lyon’s Natural History Museum from 1870 until his death. Lortet passionately explored natural and human sciences. He climbed Mont Blanc twice in one week. He studied high-altitude physiology. He gathered human skulls from various regions. He researched animal mummification in Egypt. Lortet broadened understanding of the Middle East.
The Centre Louis Lortet embodies Lortet’s dedication to science. It preserves countless objects. The museum boasts 3.5 million items in its collection. Most reside at the Centre Louis Lortet. In 2024, it expanded with 1,880 square meters of storage.
In 2024, the Muséum des Confluences saw 708,965 visitors. That averages to 2,209 visitors each day. The Centre Louis Lortet supports this museum. It helps to maintain the museum’s collections.
The Centre Louis Lortet welcomes professionals by appointment. Visits are available Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM. You’ll find it at 13A, rue Bancel, in Lyon. Feel free to call or use the contact form for inquiries.
The Centre Louis Lortet is more than just storage. It’s a place of discovery. It’s a testament to Lyon’s commitment to knowledge. It ensures that these collections are preserved. This allows future generations to learn from them. It serves as a reminder that knowledge shared is knowledge amplified.