Musée des Tissus et des Arts décoratifs, Lyon, France 

This charming museum is situated in Lyon, a city that in the 18th and 19th centuries was one of the textile capitals of the world. The museum has a very rich collection of textiles (more than two million pieces) mostly coming from donations from the Lyon Chamber of Commerce. On less crowded days you are greeted at the entry and you have the feeling to have been invited for a private visit. The museum has a very nice and well stocked textile library which is open to the public. Unfortunately relatively few textiles compared to the quantity of their stock are exhibited The museum's internet site is also well behind other comparable museums. Strong points: Lyon silk, Islamic textiles.