The Musée Grévin is one of Europe's oldest wax museums, opened in 1882. The idea came from Arthur Meyer, journalist and founder of the newspaper Le Gaulois. He wanted to help readers of his paper see 3D representations of celebrities.

He enlisted cartoonist, sculptor, and costume designer Alfred Grévin to help in this effort. Grévin carried it forward and it's been going strong for over a century. Over the years the decor was embellished, including the Grévin Theater and the Hall of Mirrors, originally part of the 1900 World Exposition.

Visitors to the Musée Grévin today see panoramas of French history and over 400 representations of figures from French history and contemporary France and the world. In addition to political figures, the museum also includes a variety of celebrities, ranging from Mahatma Gandhi to popes to Lady Gaga, who made her debut in 2013.

You can see the assassination of King Henvi IV, or sit down next to Charles Aznavour in the theater, or cozy up with Napoléon or Anglina. The Musée Grévin presents a huge variety of famous people, in many different poses and settings, looking as if they're ready to join you for a chat. The figures are very accessible, and it's easy to take pictures of you and your friends with the various characters. You may find yourself looking twice to see if that person over there is one of the exhibits or another visitor!

Want to see world leaders like Obama or Putin? They're there.

At the end of the visit, you can also learn some of the "tricks of the trade," as a section of the exhibit explains how the figures are made, their clothing, hair, and more.

The Musée Grévin also enjoys a unique location. Although the official address is Boulevard Montmartre, it is connected to the charming Passage Jouffroy, one of the wonderful 19th century covered passages of Paris.

Paris is known for its museums, but generally one thinks of the Louvre, or the Musée d'Orsay, or the Rodin Museum. The Musée Grévin is in a different category, but visitors have been fascinated with it for over a century, so it clearly is filling a need and provides value. The building itself is fascinating. Note that the opening "spectacle" takes place in a large mirrored room, which at times is very dark.

Be prepared to enjoy yourself! Kids might find it particularly interesting, and it can provide a fun way to teach them about French history and introduce them to famous people. Be aware that it is one of the more expensive museums in Paris. While it is not included on the Paris Museum Pass, admission is covered with the Paris Pass. Open daily.

Métro: Grands Boulevards, Richelieu
Bus: 20, 39, 48, 67, 74, 85

Musée Grévin Paris
10, Boulevard Montmartre
75009 PARIS
+33(0)1 47 70 85 05

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