Visit Le Musée des Arts Forains in Paris

In the southeastern-most corner of Paris, situated right on the La Seine in the 12th arrondissement, is an attraction tany type of traveler could appreciate: Le Musée des Arts Forains (The Museum of Carnival Arts). Le Musée is a carnival-themed gallery filled with both rich history as well as a number of ornately decorated attractions.

Virtualia from Musée des Arts Forains on Vimeo.

The museum is divided into five primary areas, each featuring a carnival style of a particular era. In the Venetian Rooms, visitors can find showcases from the Most Serene Republic itself, like an automated Italian opera and a gondola merry-go-round. The Theater of Marvels focuses on early 20^th-century world’s fair events, including Paris’ own turn-of-the-century Exposition Universelle. Perhaps the largest area is the Fairground Art Museum and its bicycle-pedal-powered carousel and traditional French carnival games. Le Musée also holds a Greenery Theater and the recently added Magic Mirror room.

© Patrick Janicek | Flickr

Each tour lasts about an hour and a half and costs €16. Admission includes tickets for visitors to use on the different rides and games as they make their way though each exhibit. While the museum was once closed to the public, and reserved only for the press and special groups, it has since become open to the public by prior booking only.

Naguère Daguerre 2 from Musée des Arts Forains on Vimeo.