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-   -   Grévin wax museum in Paris - how good is it? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/gr-vin-wax-museum-in-paris-how-good-is-it-662276/)

WillTravel Dec 3rd, 2006 07:16 PM

Grévin wax museum in Paris - how good is it?
 
My daughter loved the Madame Tussaud wax museum in Amsterdam. Is the Grévin wax museum in Paris at all similar to the Madame Tussaud ones? I know this sort of thing does not appeal to many people, but for a teenager, how good is it? Any tips welcome.

djkbooks Dec 3rd, 2006 07:27 PM

We love this place! Try to visit every other trip to Paris. There are some "Madame Tussaud" rooms with modern day celebrities and public figures, but much of the place is dedicated to the history of France in chronological order. (And, it's worth the €2 for the printed guide in English.) You'll see Joan of Arc (her armor is TINY), Marie Antoinnette and children fleeing Versailles, Napoleon at his most powerful and also on his deathbed. Rooms and rooms of terrific exhibits.

Included is a theater with shows (in French), but entertaining/amusing all the same.

Positively awesome is the huge and gorgeous room full of mirrors and lights (with atmospheric music).

Here are there are actual people posed here and there (so you think they are wax figures - until they smile, wink, or move). Hilarious!

kaz11 Dec 3rd, 2006 09:27 PM

Maybe your teenager is young enough to go on the 'discovery tour'.
It sounds interesting.

www.grevin.com

WillTravel Dec 4th, 2006 09:52 PM

Thanks djkbooks and kaz. I strongly suspect my daughter will be interested in the museum and in the discovery tour. djkbooks, I'm particularly interested to hear you liked it as an adult. I was considering just having her go by herself, like she did to Madame Tussaud.

Travelnut Dec 5th, 2006 07:07 AM

It's right next door to the Hard Rock, in case she would also like that, and also by the entrance to one passage, and across the street from another passage (Panorama and Joffrey, I think).

djkbooks Dec 5th, 2006 07:28 AM

We really enjoy the historical scenes. Room after room of authentic clothing and decor. Madame Tussaud was apprentice to a Philipp Curtius, the premier wax works expert of the day. People actually contributed personal clothing and belongings to his exhibits. I don't know if it's true, but I read that Joan of Arc's armor is authentic. The section of the French Revolution is particularly moving.

If your daughter is interested in wax works, you may want to consider "Madame Tussaud and the History of Waxworks" by Pamela Pilbeam as a Christmas gift. Great read!


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