Musée de la Figurine

Over het museum

The museum grew out of two bequests to the City of Compiègne: that of Arthur de Marsy in 1901, consisting of polychrome wooden soldiers by Jean-Baptiste Clémence (late 18th century), and that of Alfred Ternisien in 1927, which includes several thousand figurines representing the armies of history. In 1931, the immense diorama of the Battle of Waterloo by Charles Laurent joined the collection, which then numbered nearly 30,000 figurines and was housed in the town hall.

An exhibition organised in 1948 by the Société des collectionneurs de figurines historiques encouraged the creation of a permanent museum, which came into being the following year. In 1977, the City decided to move it to the former Hôtel de la Cloche, adjoining the town hall, and entrusted its restructuring to Abbé Robert Ducoin, a renowned figurine expert. Inaugurated in 1984, it became the first major museum dedicated to historical figurines; it holds nearly 155,000 pieces, of which about 45,000 were on display.

The museum reopened in 2026 in another location in the town, the former officers' mess of the Staff College, across 1,000 m² that have been entirely redesigned. The project received support from the European Regional Development Fund and the French Ministry of Culture. The route tells the story of the figurine through its uses, its manufacturing techniques and the imaginary worlds it inspires, with dioramas, a figurine maker's workshop and a figurine library.

Hoogtepunten

• Collection of nearly 155,000 historical figurines
• Large dioramas, including the Battle of Waterloo
• Figurine maker's workshop and figurine library with touch-sensitive devices
• Augmented reality headsets on the Battle of Waterloo
• Museum fully accessible on one level in the former officers' mess

Vaste collectie

• Parcours permanent du musée de la Figurine – Dioramas, 3D figurines, the figurine maker's workshop, the figurine library and sequences on fashions and lives, from the Battle of Waterloo to imaginary worlds.

Opgericht

1949

Beheerder

Ville de Compiègne

Bezoekers per jaar

ca. 9.923

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Gratis toegang: First Sunday of each month (free for everyone) and during national events

Also free, with proof, for job seekers, recipients of social minima, teachers (Pass Éducation), members of ICOM and ICOMOS, tour guides, journalists, Friends of the Museums and members of the Société historique de Compiègne.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

All spaces are on one level. Public lift from the disabled parking space in Rue Othenin; a second space in front of the façade (please call the museum). Wheelchair available free of charge on request, adapted toilets with baby changing table, display cases at eye level, step stools available. Panel texts in audio version on the museums' website, touch-sensitive devices, induction loops at reception, films subtitled in French, English and German, pictograms and a children's route in easy French. Application for the “Tourisme & Handicap” label in progress.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Verschoonruimte

Children's route with texts in easy French, augmented reality headsets in children's sizes, collections at child height, guided tours and workshops led by mediators. Free admission for under-26s.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The four sites of the Compiègne museums are close to one another, a few minutes' walk apart. Accessible by bicycle (Accueil Vélo).

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel
• Garderobe

Museum shop. Cloakroom marked with a pictogram.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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