Founded in 1889, the Musée Guimet has the most comprehensive collection of Asian art in the world and the largest in Europe. Initially based in Lyon and later transferred to Paris, it was the brainchild of Émile Guimet, a visionary and passionate entrepreneur, who decided to create a museum of religions following a decisive trip to Egypt. Today, the Musée Guimet houses a collection of Asian art spanning 7,000 years of history, from Afghanistan to Japan, India, China, Korea and South-East Asia, from the Neolithic period to the present day.