September 2025
This is one of the more magical places you will step into. Unfortunately, like so many magical places, the pictures will not do it justice; you just have to go see for yourself.
When you approach the entrance, the doors lure you in with these acrobats by street artist Jérôme Mesnager
Your introduction to this experience begins in the courtyard. You have no idea what awaits behind the giant doors that surround you
Le Musée des Arts Forains, Paris, is dedicated to fairground arts, theater, and other curiosities. This is a step back in time to the funfairs of the Belle Époque, with objects from the 19th and 20th centuries.
The first thing you are greeted with is an elephant carrying a snow scene from the Alps suspended from a hot air balloon
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The museum is primarily a creation of Jean Paul Favand, a collector of items in the performing and fairground arts, as well as an exhibition designer.
After drifting across Paris it finally found a permanent home in 1996 in an ancient wine storage facility in Bercy, the “Chais Lheureux”
In order to make these objects accessible to guests, each item in the museum is selected among the thousands in storage. After choosing the pieces, Jean Paul Favand worked on positioning and staging them, using lighting effects to give the visitor a peek into his ethereal world.
The museum is an immersive experience divided into three main rooms, each with its own flavor and focus: La Fête Foraine, Le Théatre du Merveilleux, and Les Salons Vénitiens.
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To see the museum, you must be on a tour. However, each person gets to participate in each of the events that are offered.
Playing the ancient game of advancing your horse at the race course to win a prize
There is even one representing the famous Paris Waiters’ Race
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An Homage to Josephine Baker, one of the very few things in the museum that are behind glass
This is a Mortier organ. At the end of the 19th century, Theophile Mortier ran a pub in Antwerp, where he installed dance organs manufactured by the Parisian firm of Gavioli. His business survived until 1952.
A Dance Organ built by Hooghuys
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Carnaval games that are recognizable even today.
A recreation of the Rialto Bridge in Les Salons Vénitiens
These are just 4 of several automatons that perform an opera for the crowd
The museum specializes in restoring and recreating Merry-Go-Rounds like this manège de gondoles
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One of the more unique objects can be found in La Fête Foraine, which features 19th-century games, including this manège de vélocipèdes, a pedal-powered bicycle merry-go-round.
manège de vélocipèdes
This velocipede ride was manufactured in 1897 by Caillebaut and Decanck in Ghent, Belgium.
Twenty thousand hours of restoration were necessary to get it back into working order, thanks to artisans from 18 different trades. Every year, the ride undergoes a three-day maintenance routine where the bikes are disassembled and the rail carefully checked.
Powered by the people pedaling, it goes really, really fast!
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Tours are available throughout the year, with most being given in French. English version tours are available, but on a more sporadic basis. Check their website to book tours.
The museum occupies a structure that was once part of the wine warehouses of Bercy, a commercial district that was once the largest wine market in the world.
The area of Bercy is historically very interesting, the museum simply a world of magic.