France Miniature
Feel like a giant as you explore the detailed models and towns in France Miniature
Most people have heard of Jonathan Swift's book, Gulliver's Travels, and many have wondered what it would be like to experience the sensation of being a giant. Paris has made this possible with a tourist attraction called "France Miniature".
France Miniature covers five hectares of outdoor park area that is the exact same shape as France itself. Within the park you will find 160 models of France's most popular and famous historic monuments and landmarks scaled down to 1/30th of their actual size. It is really like a map of France that you can walk around in as the monuments are all placed as close as possible to their real life locations.
It is not like walking through a museum however. Many of the monuments have some kind of animation that will delight even the most staid of visitor. There is a train system that runs through the park and a number of boats that float in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. There are paths that you can follow from one monument to the next so that you do not get lost or damage the models. There is also an indoor exhibition centre with a number of finely detailed models.
You are not restricted to wandering among the models however. There is also a do it yourself amusement park on the premises. You operate the rides yourself having a lot of fun controlling your own ride. There are a few places where you are going to have to depend on the person behind you to press the release button though so you have a chance to make friends with people you would otherwise never speak to.
If you want to view this particular attraction then you will have to visit Paris in the summer months as the park is closed during winter for renovations and repairs.
France Miniature is a place that most people should definitely put on their to do list when visiting France for a holiday. There is plenty to keep you amused for an entire day. Children will enjoy feeling like Godzilla on a rampage through France and grown-ups will give way to their inner-child as they explore this delightful place.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes. Tickets are available for purchase on the official website.Address: 25 Rte du Mesnil, 78990 Élancourt, France
Phone: 01 30 16 16 30
Official Website: France Miniature
France Miniature Reviews
Rated out of 5
Wonderful place to “travel” across the France if you have only one free day. All was great except for the “reduced price” (for students and handicapped people…) was not really “reduced” compared with “regular price”…
Lana Vu - a month ago
What a great place for all ages, I spent half a day here but it’s easy a full day trip,
Johan grobler - 5 months ago
Nice place to go and relax while seeing some of France's miniature historic sites
Vie Rose - 2 years ago
All the family loved this place: kids and adults. What ‘s amazing is that the whole area is designed to look like France’s map, with monuments placed in their real geographical positions. Nice work on the monuments, the details, the exactness, the standardization on 1/30. To top it all, we had a wonderful sunny spring day.
Rony Honein - 2 years ago
Really nice place for children.
Patrícia Vieira Neves - a month ago
Directions
| Metro / SNCF Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| M4, 6, 12 or 13 + SNCF N + Bus | Montparnasse - Bienvenüe / Gare Montparnasse to La Verrière - Gare | 2 minutes |
How to get to France Miniature by Metro / SNCF
By Metro plus SNCF Train and Bus: Make your way via Metro M4, 6, 12, or 13 to Montparnasse - Bienvenüe Station and walk over to Gare Montparnasse to Board SNCF Train N to La Verrière - Gare (Station). Catch the #411 bus with destination sign ÉLANCOURT Les Côtes from the bus exchange situated just west of the of the station and disembark at the stop for France Miniature. This is about a 10 minute bus ride. On the trip back to the station catch the #411 bus with destination sign COIGNIÈRES Les Écoles.
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Photo Gallery
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Incredibly detailed miniature of the Arc-de-Triomphe and the Sacre Coeur at France Miniature cc licensed photo by http2007 -
Photo Credit: zigazou76 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: zigazou76 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: zigazou76 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: zigazou76 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: zigazou76 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: zigazou76 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: zigazou76 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: zigazou76 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: zigazou76 - cc license via Flickr
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