Musée de la Poupée (Doll Museum)

Musée de la Poupée (Doll Museum) Review

Home to an impressive collection of dolls through the centuries, this charming museum is a little girl's dream. There are dolls of 18th-century Bisque porcelain, sturdy wood, soft cotton, delicate papier mâché, and the first plastic baby dolls from the early 20th century. Some dolls play music, others make tea. Cases lining the walls are stocked with newborn dolls, minidolls (mignonettes), and grown-up lady dolls in satin dresses—the foremothers of Barbie. There are antique doll prams, high chairs, and tattered teddy bears in need of a hug. Too extensive to show at one time, the permanent collection changes frequently and can be arranged by period or theme. Temporary exhibitions may feature modern themes like Barbie's evolution, or a classic look at postwar French dolls. Workshops allow kids to make a doll to take home (they're in French but the mostly bilingual staff is happy to speak English; call ahead to confirm). There's also a doll hospital and a well-stocked gift shop.