Musée des Arts Forains

​Hidden inside Bercy’s former wine warehouses, the Musée des Arts Forains is one of the most unusual museums in Paris. Antique carousels, Belle Époque attractions, and theatrical décor create an immersive world inspired by historic fairgrounds and public entertainment.

Step Into Paris’s Most Enchanting Museum

A magical world of antique carousels, carnival rides, and Belle Époque entertainment in the heart of Bercy
The Musée des Arts Forains is one of the most unusual and enchanting museums in Paris. Hidden inside the former wine warehouses of Bercy in the 12th arrondissement, this immersive museum recreates the atmosphere of historic fairgrounds, theatres, and public amusements from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Unlike traditional museums where exhibits sit quietly behind glass, the Musée des Arts Forains is designed to be experienced. Visitors walk among restored wooden carousels, mechanical organs, mirrors, painted scenery, and vintage carnival games while guides bring the collection to life through demonstrations and stories.

Practical Information

Musée des Arts Forains 
​Les Pavillions de Bercy
53 Avenue des Terroirs de France​
75012 PARIS
12th arrondissement
​Your metro station is:
 Cour Saint-Émilion

Opening information

Access is generally by *guided tour and advance reservation only.
Special public events are held during the Christmas season and European Heritage Days.
​Entrance fee €21 ​

Best time to visit

​December during the Festival du Merveilleux, when the museum becomes even more theatrical and festive.

Official Website:
https://arts-forains.com/en/

location Map

A Museum Dedicated to Fairground Arts

Created by collector and scenographer Jean Paul Favand, the museum opened in Bercy in 1996 inside restored nineteenth-century wine halls. The collection celebrates “arts forains” — the world of travelling fairs, carousels, street entertainment and popular spectacles that once animated Paris and cities across Europe.
The atmosphere is intentionally theatrical. Dim lighting, painted sets, music, and vintage decorations transform the old warehouse interiors into dreamlike spaces that feel somewhere between a museum, theatre, and carnival.

Antique Carousels and Fairground Attractions

The museum’s main galleries contain beautifully restored rides dating from around 1850 to 1950. Visitors may encounter:

• Hand-carved wooden carousel horses
• Bicycle-powered rides
• Belle Époque carnival games
• Mechanical orchestras and organs
• Mirrors and illusion effects
• Historic fairground booths

One of the museum’s great strengths is that many attractions still function. During guided tours, some rides are demonstrated — and visitors may even be invited to participate.
Unlike many museums focused purely on preservation, the Musée des Arts Forains preserves movement, sound, and spectacle.

The Venetian Salons

Among the museum’s most surprising spaces are the Venetian Salons, inspired by romantic visions of Venice and nineteenth-century masked balls.
Mirrors, chandeliers, painted scenery, and theatrical lighting create a fantasy atmosphere closer to an opera set than a conventional museum gallery. The space is frequently used for private events, performances, and receptions.

The Théâtre du Merveilleux

Another section explores the world of illusion and imagination through automata, cabinets of curiosities, and theatrical effects inspired by early magic shows and pre-cinema entertainment.
This immersive staging reflects the museum’s broader philosophy: preserving not just objects, but the experience of wonder itself.

Why visit the Musée des Arts Forains

Paris is famous for its grand museums but the Musée des Arts Forains offers something entirely different.
Rather than focusing on masterpieces or monuments, it celebrates entertainment, craftsmanship, imagination and the popular culture of historic Paris.
It is especially worthwhile for:

• Families looking for a more interactive museum
• Photographers seeking unusual interiors
• Lovers of Belle Époque Paris
• Visitors interested in hidden or lesser-known attractions
• Anyone wanting a break from traditional museums

The museum also reminds visitors that fairs and public amusements were once an essential part of Parisian life long before cinemas, television, or digital entertainment existed.

Final Thoughts - worth a visit?

The Musée des Arts Forains remains one of Paris’s true hidden gems.
Part museum, part theatre and part time machine, it preserves the playful spirit of historic fairgrounds in a way few places in Europe still can. The experience feels intimate, nostalgic and unlike anything else in the city.
For visitors seeking a more unusual side of Paris beyond the major museums and monuments, this magical corner of Bercy is absolutely worth discovering.
When booking don't worry about joining a French guide for your tour as the experienced guides will make you feel part of the experience and you are probably mor likely to join in the dancing to the organ recital!
Despite being one of the most unusual museums in Paris, the Musée des Arts Forains still feels like a hidden discovery for many visitors.
​Is it worth a visit - yes,you will leave uplifted!
​Check out blog post on visit here.

One Last Glimpse of Old Paris Entertainment

​Leaving the museum and stepping back into modern Bercy can feel strangely abrupt after spending time among its dreamlike fairground worlds.

Nearby Attractions

Parc de Bercy
A modern riverside park combining gardens, footbridges, lawns, and remnants of the old wine district.
Bercy Village
A lively pedestrian area with cafés, restaurants, and shops inside restored wine warehouses.
Cinémathèque Française
One of the world’s great film institutions, dedicated to cinema history and classic film culture.
Seine Riverside Walks
​Pleasant walking routes along the Seine connect Bercy with eastern Paris and the Bibliothèque Nationale district.

• Paris museums (to follow)

◄Back to 12th arr.