Museum of Magic (Musée de la Magie) Tours

Founded by magician George Proust in 1993 and filled with curiosities, the Museum of Magic (Musée de la Magie) is one of Paris’ more unusual museums. Housed in an atmospheric 16th-century inn, the eclectic collection includes mind-bending optical illusions, automatons, and magic-related paraphernalia.  

The Basics
Allow around an hour to visit the small museum, where highlights include magic kits and props dating back to the 18th century, as well as interactive exhibits and distorting mirrors. Stick around for one of the live magic shows, included in the ticket price. Combination tickets are available for the Museum of Magic and the neighboring Museum of Automata (Musée des Automates), where you’ll see more than 100 robotic figures, many of them interactive.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Most of the museum’s displays are in French, with limited English translations.
• Magic shows usually take place every half hour and last around 15 minutes.
• Stairs make the museum inaccessible to wheelchairs.

How to Get There
The Museum of Magic is located in Paris’ Marais district in the 4th arrondissement. The closest metro station is Sully-Morland (Line 7), but it’s also within easy walking distance of Saint-Paul (Line 1) and Pont Marie (Line 7) stations.

When to Get There
The Museum of Magic is typically open on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and daily during school holidays. Opening days and times vary throughout the year—verify them before planning a visit.

Quirky Museums in Paris
Fans of unique museums will find plenty of interest in Paris, aside from the Museum of Magic. Explore the 18th-century Catacombs, then descend into the city’s sewers at the Sewer Museum (Musée des Egouts). Or, marvel at medieval medical equipment at the Medical History Museum (Musée d’Histoire de la Médecine), and see carousel horses and games at the Carnival Arts Museum (Musée des Arts Forains). There’s even a Vampire Museum (Musée des Vampires).