You owe this timeless place to Jean Paul Favand, a true director of heritage from the performing arts and fairground arts. The first curiosity of his life: his first name is spelled Jean Paul, without a hyphen. A flourish? Not really. More like a clue to his taste for the unexpected.
A passionate self-taught collector, he became an impromptu antique dealer, treasure hunter, ride master, and tireless collector. In the 70s, he tirelessly scoured markets for wax statues, old decorations, curiosities of all kinds... and even forgotten rides! His taste for the unusual opened doors to artists like Salvador Dalí or Robert Doisneau, who fell under the charm of his collection and dedicated a photo report to it.
Little by little, his collection became gigantic. Then, a crazy idea crossed his mind: what if you could enter this universe, not just as a spectator, but as an actor in a re-enchanted world? This is how he created a living museum. After traveling between Gentilly and the 15th arrondissement, his dream finally took root in Bercy in 1996, in former 19th-century wine warehouses.
Today, you know this place as the Pavillons de Bercy – Musée des Arts Forains (Museum of Fairground Arts). Its uniqueness? Here, you are not doomed to just look from afar. Quite the opposite: you can touch, try out, operate, and let yourself be carried away. Ride a 1897 velocipede (one of the last working ones in the world), challenge your friends in a waiters’ race game, or swing like in the fairgrounds of yesteryear.
As you wander, you discover over 11,400 m² divided into four enchanting universes: the Théâtre du Merveilleux (Theatre of Marvels), the Musée des Arts Forains (Museum of Fairground Arts), the Salons Vénitiens (Venetian Salons), and the Théâtre de Verdure (Green Theatre). Each space has its own atmosphere, entertainment, and poetry.
And if you want to experience an even more magical moment, come at Christmas: the Festival du Merveilleux (Festival of Marvels) transforms the museum and its garden into a true fairy tale. Parades, shows, antique rides, and illuminations… everything is brought together to immerse you in a unique atmosphere.
So, ready to relive your childhood? The Musée des Arts Forains awaits you, for a timeless journey, to be experienced with wide eyes and a light heart.
Musée des Arts Forains – Pavillons de Bercy
53 avenue des Terroirs de France, 75012 Paris