Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Lyon

The Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Lyon, known locally as CNSMD Lyon or simply the Conservatoire de Lyon, is one of only two state-run higher conservatories in France, the other being in Paris. It trains musicians and dancers to professional performance level, and its home is a striking riverside complex on Quai Chauveau, in Lyon's 9th arrondissement, right next to the Pont Koenig bridge.

Where is the Conservatoire de Lyon located?

The building sits on the right bank of the Saône, north of Vieux Lyon, at coordinates roughly 45.769 N, 4.813 E. It's an easy riverside walk from the historic centre, with views across the water toward the Fourvière hill, and the Pont Koenig bridge connects the site directly to the rest of the city.

What is the history behind this site?

The ground on Quai Chauveau has been in continuous use since Roman times, when it was home to one of the city's major bath complexes, complete with a fountain and the legendary tomb of the "Two Lovers." After the Roman baths fell out of use, a hospital occupied the site, and in 1493 a Franciscan community, the Cordeliers de l'Observance, established a convent here. A Renaissance chapel was added toward the end of the 16th century, and in 1657 the property passed to the nuns of Sainte-Élisabeth.

Everything changed after the French Revolution: in 1795 the former convent became home to a veterinary school. The buildings took their present monumental form between 1838 and 1868, designed by architect Pierre-Prosper Chabrol, who gave the complex its large-scale, 19th-century academic character. The veterinary school remained here until 1978, when it relocated to Marcy-l'Étoile on the city's outskirts, freeing up the site for a new institution.

When was the Conservatoire de Lyon founded, and what does it do today?

The conservatory itself — France's second national higher music and dance school after Paris — was established in 1978, admitted its first students in 1979, and was formally inaugurated in 1980. It did not move into the historic Quai Chauveau complex until 1988, once the former veterinary school buildings had been converted into teaching studios, rehearsal rooms and performance halls.

Today CNSMD Lyon trains around 500 music students and close to 90 dance students each year, preparing them for careers as soloists, orchestral instrumentalists, choral conductors, composers, and teachers. The institution stages more than 400 concerts and performances annually, both on its own premises and on stages across Lyon, making it a living cultural venue as much as an educational one.

What can visitors actually see there?

The main draw for visitors is the architecture itself: a site with medieval and Renaissance roots wrapped in Chabrol's imposing 19th-century academic buildings, set right on the Saône. During the academic year, the conservatory opens many of its concerts and dance performances to the public, giving outsiders a rare chance to step inside rehearsal and performance spaces that are otherwise part of a working school.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the Conservatoire de Lyon as a tourist? It's primarily a working higher-education institution, not a museum, but the public can attend the concerts and dance performances it regularly programs — checking the event schedule is the best way in.

How is CNSMD Lyon different from a regular city conservatory? It holds national higher-education status, one of only two such institutions in France alongside Paris, training professional-level performers rather than amateur or preparatory students.

How do you get to Quai Chauveau? The site is on the right bank of the Saône in the 9th arrondissement, next to the Pont Koenig bridge and just north of Vieux Lyon — an easy walk from the historic old town.

How long has the conservatory been in this building? The institution itself dates to 1978-1980, but it only moved into the former veterinary school buildings on Quai Chauveau in 1988, after their conversion.