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This museum originally started when Jean Paul Favand, who was an
actor and antiques dealer, decided to start collecting objects from fairgrounds and the
entertainment world and Jean has been gathering and restoring his collection of fairground
works of art for over thirty years now.
Although the hopes of a State funded museum never came about, Jean Paul Favand wished to
keep his collection going and this led him to set up a private museum, which was, and
still is funded through hosting special events and of course the generosity of donations.
The Museum of Fairground Arts was the first site to be installed in the Pavillons de
Bercy, which is located in an old wine storage facility situated in the South East part of
Paris in the 12th arrondissement, along the banks of the River
Seine. It is designed around the theme of fairground art and it was followed by
two other sites called the Venetian Rooms and the Théâtre du Merveilleux, and each of
these event venues illustrate festive or entertainment themes within the historical
buildings.
The Musée des Arts Forains along with The Venetian Rooms and the Piazza plus Le Théâtre
du Merveilleux, or in English called The Theatre of Marvels is on a 1.5 hectare site and
is surrounded by 3,000 square metres of paved courtyards and tree-lined streets. And
preserving a unique part of the Paris city heritage,
this collection is now considered to be one of the most extensive in its category.
This museum has a fabulous collection of restored merry-go-rounds, fairground stalls and
attractions in a reconstruction of a fair from 1850 through to 1950 with diversity.
And it is a fun place to visit as it is interactive, as you are actually allowed to touch
and play on the attractions, like taking a ride on a restored bicycle
merry-go-round.
Visits to this unusual museum in Paris are only
organised on demand and are scheduled according to the number of requests received and the
availability of the three themed rooms or whether they are already booked for one of the
private functions they hold.
Group visits for 15 to 50 people with a guided tour can be scheduled for weekdays or even
weekends but only by appointment and subject to availability with Diane as your guide by
telephoning: 1 43 40 16 15.
Address & Contact Details:
Musée des Arts Forains
Les Pavillons de Bercy
53 Avenue des Terroirs de France
75012
Paris
France
Telephone: 1 43 40 16 22
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