Museu d'Autòmats

About the museum

Since the opening of the Tibidabo amusement park in 1901, the site imported automata and automatic machines from several European countries. From 1925 to 1954 the park's own workers built others. In the late 1970s the pieces were taken out of the open air to be fully restored, and since 1982 they have formed part of the Museu d’Autòmats.

The museum occupies a Modernist building from 1909 and is considered one of the best collections of its kind in the world. It brings together more than 40 pieces from the 19th and 20th centuries; the oldest is the Pallasso Mandolinista, from 1880, and among the most popular are Els Equilibristes, L’Orquestra Prodigiosa, El Poeta s’adorm and La Monyos, a character famous on the Ramblas in the 1930s. The fame of the collection even led Walt Disney to try to buy it in 1957, during a visit to the park, but the company refused to sell.

The most recent addition is Els germans Gaüs o L’equilibri del Món, a state-of-the-art automaton created in 2005 by Lluís Ribas, the museum's current restorer and curator, which was a finalist at the Aichi World Exposition (Japan). The automaton “Tretze-Dotze”, from 2017, is adapted for people with disabilities.

Highlights

• More than 40 automata from the 19th and 20th centuries
• Pallasso Mandolinista (1880), the oldest piece
• Els Equilibristes, L’Orquestra Prodigiosa, El Poeta s’adorm and La Monyos
• Els germans Gaüs o L’equilibri del Món, a 2005 work by Lluís Ribas
• 1909 Modernist building within the Tibidabo park

Permanent exhibition

• Colección de autómatas – More than 40 automata and animated models from the 19th and 20th centuries, including the Pallasso Mandolinista (1880), Els Equilibristes and L’Orquestra Prodigiosa.

Founded

1982

Operated by

Parc d’atraccions Tibidabo

Admission & discounts

The museum has no admission of its own: it is visited with the individual ticket for an emblematic attraction (€4, at the ticket office only), with the emblematic-attractions pass or with park admission. Free admission for children under 90 cm, members of the TibiClub and holders of the Targeta Rosa.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A platform lift allows wheelchair users to reach the area with the automata and models (level 5). The automaton “Tretze-Dotze” (2017) is adapted for people with disabilities, especially blind people: its arms and legs move by means of a crank. In the park there are two lifts serving all levels, with priority for wheelchair users or people with pushchairs, and accessible toilets, for example next to CreaTibi (level 5).

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Children from 0 to 90 cm must be accompanied by an adult. On the automaton “Tretze-Dotze” the arms and legs move with a crank.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on level 5 of the park. The address of the summit car park is Camí de Vallvidrera al Tibidabo, 49.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit