A few weeks ago I was sent an invitation to visit France Miniature which is about an hour outside of Paris. I was so thrilled to receive the invitation because it meant I had a reason to get out the city for a few hours. I have not been on the metro or bus, since the lockdown in March, and the furthest distance I’ve traveled was a walk to Place Madeleine to go to Ikea in early June.
It was a big leap of faith to travel to France Miniature, because I had to take the metro, the RER train, and a bus to get there. I was armed with a mask, hand gel, and latex glove for the voyage plus a good book. All was fine on all three forms of transport, and everyone respected the mandatory mask wearing and social distancing as best as possible. I also traveled late morning at off peak hours, so the train and buses were not crowded.
Enough about the journey for now, because I bet you are wondering by now what the heck is France Miniature.
France Miniature is a 12-acre park with 117 Miniature replicas of the most important sites, monuments, and treasures of France. From cathedrals, to small, ancient villages, to city squares, to Roman arenas, castles, railroad stations, and chateaux, France Miniature is a marvelous way to see the best of France in a unique way.The craftsmanship is meticulous, from each brick of an ancient site to the mini-cars and people situated in them. There are also replicas of the landscapes, and the park is filled with mini trees, shrubs, and waterways.
Of course, the Paris section of the park put a big smile on my face with models of Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Arche de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, and a few surprises.
If you are bringing children to France Miniature, they also have an amusement park with 14 rides and attractions as well as a snack bar and sit-down restaurant, so you can make a whole day out of it.
The good thing about France Miniature is that the size is manageable, so there isn't endless walking like Disneyworld, or other large amusement parks, which can be exhausting. I comfortably saw everything in about an hour, although it wasn't very crowded when I was there, probably because school wasn't out yet for summer vacation.
Prices are reasonable; 23€ for adults, children 4 to 11 years old, 17€, and children under 4, are free. The park is open from April till November.
https://www.franceminiature.fr/en
Cathedrale de Sainte Cecile d'Albi
The Circus
Roman Arena in Arles
Theater in Orange
Village Jurassien
Place de la Concorde & Arche de Triomphe
Chateau de Culan
La Rochelle
Chateau de Chambord
Invalides
Notre Dame de Paris
Sacre Coeur/Montmartre
Railroad Station
Viaduct
American Cemetery, Normandie
Versailles
Place Bellecour, Lyon
