The Gallo-Roman Museum was inaugurated in November 1975. Architect Bernard H. Zehrfuss, winner of the Prix de Rome, conceived a building completely integrated into the site and almost invisible from the exterior.

Inside, the usual system of exhibit rooms was abandoned in favor of spaces following along a large helical ramp. The building's structure therefore allows a complete visit of the museum following a natural pathway suggested by the descent. The architecture, which is deliberately sober, puts emphasis on the works themselves, evoking spatial and thematic connections. A well placed above a mosaic connects habitat to religion, while the large bay windows showcase the exhibit's antique theaters.

Faced with Lyon's Roman monuments, Bernard Zehrfuss was convinced from the beginning that only an underground structure could respond to the demands of this exceptional site, which it was necessary to preserve. The concrete structure disappears under the vegetation and only two large bay windows look out onto the Antique theatres inside the exhibit.

Bernard Zehrfuss: an architect dedicated to modernity – 1911-1996
Born in Angers in 1911, Bernard Zehrfuss entered the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Beaux Arts at the age of 17. In 1939, he was awarded the Prix de Rome. The prize was supposed to open the door to the Villa Medici in Rome, but war forced a change of plans. While serving in the military during the Syrian conflict, he discovered the writings of Le Corbusier. This « fantastic revelation » oriented him towards the Modernist movement. City planner, then architect, he succeeded a generation of first-wave Modernist architects including Perret and Le Corbusier, who popularized the usage of new materials. His path was emblematic of the “Trente Glorieuses,” the thirty years following the Second World War, which were marked by the urgency of reconstruction, the persistence of the housing crisis and the lack of nationwide city planning. His major works, such as the Palais des Expositions du CNIT at La Défense and the Palais UNESCO in Paris, elevated him to a quasi-official status of “standard bearer” of modern architecture.

One of the Museum's most remarkable characteristics is the use of concrete. The building is entirely constructed in reinforced concrete both inside and out. This is not surprising, since Bernard Zehrfuss became interested in the material's potential early on. In order to construct this building, it was necessary to treat the concrete and its implementation very carefully. The molded wall and its supports, the heating system, and the treatment of the south wall are among the innovations which made this museum a living example of contemporary architecture.