Musée Grévin, Wax museum in 9th arrondissement, Paris, France
The Musée Grévin is a private wax museum on the Grands Boulevards in the ninth arrondissement of Paris. Its red marble facade, framed in dark stone, carries gold capital letters reading "MUSÉE GRÉVIN" above a relief of two winged female figures flanking a draped panel with the name in red script. Below, gold lettering over an arched opening names the Cabinet Fantastique and the Palais des Mirages. Inside, some 450 wax figures are arranged in scenes, from Charlemagne to Napoleon III and the French Revolution.
The museum opened on June 5, 1882, and was founded by journalist Arthur Meyer, who conceived it as a counterpart to London's Madame Tussauds. Alfred Grévin, already known for his satirical drawings in magazines, took on the artistic direction and shaped the first figures in his studio.
The name comes from Alfred Grévin, a caricaturist and illustrator who shaped the first figures and gave the venue its artistic character. Today visitors from many countries come here to take photos next to replicas of well-known personalities and walk through scenes set in different rooms.
The entrance is at 10 Boulevard Montmartre, close to several metro stations and other attractions in central Paris. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 18:30 and on weekends until 19:00, with reduced rates on Wednesdays.
The Palais des Mirages, originally created for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, produces optical effects through a complex system of mirrors and lights in a dedicated room. This installation takes visitors through shifting illusions, from a tropical garden to an oriental palace, as reflections change all around them.
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