Musée des Arts Forains

Paris --PLBE-- Paris - La Belle Époque

The Musée des Arts Forains - Collection Jean-Paul Favand is a private museum of funfair objects located within the Pavillons de Bercy in the 12th arrondissement of Paris at 53, avenue des Terroirs de France, Paris, France, with temporary exhibition space at 64, rue des Pirogues de Bercy. It is open to the public by prior reservation.

The museum was created by Jean Paul Favand, an actor and antiques dealer, from his private collection. It opened to the public in 1996, and now contains a variety of objects dating between 1850-1950 including 14 amusement rides, 16 fair stalls and restored attractions, 18 sets of historical works, and 1522 independent works. The collections include merry-go-rounds and carousels, German swings, hundred-year-old bicycles, Japanese billiards, a Parisian Waiter Race and a Hooghuys Organ, and the grand vizier Ali Pasha.

The museum is composed of two major parts: the permanent collection and the temporary collection.

Permanent Collection

This collection is composed of three thematic rooms (covering about 2000 square meters each): "The Venetian Lounges" (Les Salons Vénitiens), "The Theatre of Marvels" (Le Théâtre du Merveilleux) and "The Fairground Art Museum" (Le Musée des Arts Forains). Mainly used for corporate events, the museum is also open to individual visitors (by reservation only).

• -- The Theatre of Marvels: A glimpse into the biggest world fairs of the beginning of the 20th century (especially Paris' Exposition Universelle (1900)). An automatic orchestra (controlled by computer) audiovisual displays form a part of the attractions - thanks to 12 projectors, the walls metamorphose into Captain Nemo's Nautilus submarine, or a coral reef.
• -- The Venetian Lounges: Visitors can watch an Italian opera-based show, performed by automata in a typical Venetian setting, or go for a ride on a gondola merry-go-round.
• -- The Fairground Art Museum: A special tribute to the 19th-century funfair - ride a bicycle merry-go-round or play at a Parisian Waiters' Race stand.

Temporary Collection

A dedicated 150 square meters room has hosted temporary exhibitions, like a model funfair at the 1/20th scale, composed of 39 moving rides and 25 funfair booths.

This area is not home to any exhibition at the moment.