Musée de la Figurine in Compiègne Reopens with 155,000 Miniature Figures

The Musée de la Figurine in Compiègne, France, has reopened after two years of renovation and an investment of four million euros. Located in the restored former École d'état-major, the museum showcases a collection of nearly 155,000 figurines dating from Prehistory to the present day. The permanent exhibition spans 600 square meters and is organized into six spaces. Highlights include a monumental diorama of the Battle of Waterloo featuring 12,000 figurines by Charles Laurent, depicting the battle at 4:30 PM on June 18, 1815, with an augmented reality installation. Other notable pieces include a scene of Buffalo Bill hunting a grizzly bear and the 'Café des sports' created by Alexis Poliakoff. The collection, assembled over 40 years by the City of Compiègne, includes works from major French manufacturers such as CBG Mignot, Pixi, and Starlux. The museum is open daily except Mondays, with free admission until August 16, after which tickets cost 7 euros (reduced 5 euros). Guided tours titled 'Un musée réinventé' are offered on certain Sundays at 3 PM and 4:30 PM. The museum is located at 1 Pl. d'Orléans, 60200 Compiègne.