# Musée des Arts Forains: The Fairground Museum at Bercy

How the guided visits work, booking tips, the Christmas festival and how to pair the museum with Bercy Village

By Finzi

The Musée des Arts Forains is a private museum of fairground art in the Pavillons de Bercy, a group of old wine warehouses in the 12th arrondissement. Inside, you find antique carousels, painted organs, fairground games and theatrical sets, many from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of the rides still work, and visitors can try them during the visit.

It feels more like a magical attic than a classic museum. There are no glass cases and few labels. A guide leads you through the halls and brings the objects to life with stories and demonstrations. For families, it is one of the most memorable visits in Paris. For adults, it is a charming look at popular entertainment from another age.

# Where the Musée des Arts Forains is and how to get there

The address is 53 avenue des Terroirs de France, in the 12th arrondissement, in the eastern part of the city. The nearest metro station is Cour Saint-Émilion on line 14. From there, it is a short walk past the shops and restaurants of Bercy Village.

Bercy station, on lines 6 and 14, is also within walking distance, through the Parc de Bercy. Tram T3a stops at Baron Le Roy, south of the museum.

The museum occupies several brick and stone warehouses that were once part of the Bercy wine market. In the 19th century, this area was the largest wine depot in Paris, with barrels arriving by river and rail. The cobbled lanes and old rails between the buildings still hint at that past.

# How visits work

Most visits are guided and must be booked in advance. You cannot simply walk in, because the halls also host private events and are not open every day.

Key points at the time of writing:

• Guided visits last about one and a half hours.
• Booking online is required.
• Visits are recommended for children from about five years old.
• New time slots usually open about two to three weeks ahead.

Prices for the standard guided visit in 2026 were 21 euros for adults, 19 euros for ages 12 to 17, 14 euros for children aged four to 11, and free for children under four. A reduced rate applies to visitors with a disability. Check the official ticket site before you go, since prices and conditions can change.

Most guided tours are in French. Some slots have been offered in English or with English support. Check the language when you book. Even without much French, the visit is enjoyable, because so much of it is visual and hands-on.

# What you see inside

The collection belongs to Jean Paul Favand, a collector who spent decades gathering fairground objects from across Europe. The halls are arranged as themed worlds rather than as rows of exhibits.

Highlights usually include:

• Antique carousels with painted horses, pigs and other animals, some of which visitors can ride.
• A bicycle carousel from the late 19th century, where riders pedal to make the ride turn.
• Fairground games, including a race game in which mechanical waiters carry trays across a track.
• Large fairground organs, painted and gilded, that still play music.
• The Venetian Salons, a hall decorated in the style of an Italian carnival, with gondolas and masks.
• The Théâtre du Merveilleux, a hall with automatons, scenery and lighting effects.

The exact route depends on the visit and on events in the halls. Your guide will choose which rides to start and when visitors can try them. Follow their instructions, as some objects are fragile and old.

# The Festival du Merveilleux at Christmas

Each year, around the Christmas and New Year holidays, the museum opens for the Festival du Merveilleux. In 2026, it runs from 26 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

During the festival, the format changes:

• Visitors explore freely, without a guided tour.
• Street performers, magicians and musicians perform throughout the halls.
• Each ticket includes two tickets for rides on the antique attractions.

Festival prices were 23 euros for adults, 19 euros for young visitors and 15 euros for children aged three to 11 and reduced rates. Book online early, as the festival is very popular with Paris families.

The festival is a great choice if you are in Paris over the holidays with children. It is busy, so arrive at opening time for the shortest waits at the rides.

# Tips for visiting with children

Children usually love this museum. The rides, the music and the bright colors hold their attention far better than most museums. A few tips help:

• Book a slot that fits their nap or meal times.
• Explain that they must stay with the group and wait for the guide’s signal before touching anything.
• Bring a small snack for after the visit, since food is not allowed inside.
• Expect noise and excitement. This is not a quiet museum.

Strollers can be difficult in some halls. Check with the museum before your visit, or bring a baby carrier for very young children.

If you are also planning a family photo session in Paris, the guide to planning a Paris photoshoot with young children on photographers-paris.com has useful tips on timing and energy that apply to busy family days too.

# Practical details for the day

A few small things make the visit smoother:

• Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your slot. Groups leave on time, and latecomers may miss the start.
• Keep your booking confirmation on your phone, with the name used at checkout.
• Wear comfortable shoes. You stand and walk for most of the 90 minutes.
• Bring a light layer. The old warehouses can feel cool in winter.
• Leave large bags at the hotel. Storage space on site is limited.

Restrooms are available, but there is no full café inside the museum. Plan meals in Bercy Village before or after the visit. Several restaurants there have menus for children and indoor seating for rainy days.

For visitors with reduced mobility, the halls are mostly on one level, but floors can be uneven, and some areas are dark. Contact the museum before booking to ask about access and any help available. Staff are used to school groups and families, and they can often suggest the best slot for your needs.

# Photography

Photos for personal use are usually allowed during visits, though the guide may ask you to pause at certain moments. The lighting is dim in places, which makes photos tricky without flash. Ask your guide before using flash or filming.

The guide to what photos are allowed at ticketed sites in Paris on photographers-paris.com explains how photo rules vary from one venue to another, which helps set expectations before you go.

# Pairing the museum with Bercy

The museum is surrounded by other easy stops, which makes a pleasant half day in eastern Paris:

• Bercy Village, a short pedestrian street of restored wine warehouses with shops, cafés and restaurants.
• The Parc de Bercy, with lawns, gardens, ponds and a small vineyard.
• The Cinémathèque Française, a film museum and cinema at the edge of the park.
• The Simone-de-Beauvoir footbridge, which crosses the Seine to the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

A sample plan: morning guided visit at the museum, lunch in Bercy Village, then a walk through the park and across the footbridge to the Left Bank. This gives a mix of indoor and outdoor time and keeps walking distances short.

# When to visit

Because visits depend on time slots, the best approach is to check the calendar as soon as it opens, about two to three weeks ahead. School holidays and weekends fill first. Weekday slots are easier to find.

The Christmas festival is the busiest period. Outside it, autumn and winter weekends are popular with families looking for indoor activities. Spring and summer weekdays may offer more availability.

# Who will enjoy it most

Families with children aged five to 12 are the ideal audience. Adults who love vintage design, theater, circus history or music boxes also enjoy it. Couples looking for an unusual, playful outing often find it charming.

It is less suited to travelers who prefer traditional art museums or want to visit on short notice without booking.

# Quick answers

Where is the Musée des Arts Forains? In the Pavillons de Bercy, 53 avenue des Terroirs de France, in the 12th. The nearest metro is Cour Saint-Émilion on line 14.

Do you need to book? Yes. Most visits are guided and must be booked online in advance.

How much does it cost? In 2026, the guided visit was 21 euros for adults and 14 euros for children aged four to 11.

Can you ride the attractions? Yes, some antique rides can be tried during the visit, as directed by the guide.

When is the Christmas festival? In 2026, from 26 December to 3 January 2027.

# Sources

• Musée des Arts Forains: guided visits, the Festival du Merveilleux and practical details, arts-forains.com
• Musée des Arts Forains online ticketing: prices and time slots, arts-forains.tickeasy.com
• RATP: metro lines 6 and 14 and tram T3a, ratp.fr
• photographers-paris.com: “Paris Photoshoot with Young Children: A Planning Guide” and “Ticketed Sites in Paris: What Photos Are Allowed”