Les Pavillons de Bercy - Musée des Arts Forains, Fairground arts museum in 12th arrondissement, France
Les Pavillons de Bercy is a fairground arts museum in the 12th arrondissement housed in restored industrial buildings with a large collection of carousels, mechanical toys, and music machines from around 1850. The three halls contain Venetian-style salons and a theater cabinet, where objects are arranged in themed rooms that show how people enjoyed entertainment in that era.
The museum was established in 1996 by collector Jean-Paul Favand to preserve objects from European fairgrounds and celebrations of the 1800s. The collection focuses on equipment that brought entertainment and joy to ordinary people during that period of rapid industrial growth.
The name comes from the former warehouse pavilions that once stood in this Bercy location and now house the collections. Visitors can experience how the spaces are arranged with vintage carousels, mechanical instruments, and fairground games that still reflect their original purpose and the joy they once brought.
The museum is located near Bercy Village and accessible by Metro Line 14, but visits are only possible with a guide and advance reservations are necessary. Visitors should know that this place is designed as a guided tour experience and cannot be explored independently.
Many of the vintage carousels and ride machines are still operational and regularly function during visits, allowing guests to experience how real fairground attractions worked back then. This is rare and makes each visit an interactive experience rather than simply viewing displays.
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