The tilted room
The sloping floor makes standing upright impossible — its best-known piece.
Chabe01 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sebastien DUMETZ — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Barye, Antoine-Louis (Paris, 24–09–1795 - Paris, 29–06–1875), sculpteur — CC0 · Barye, Antoine-Louis (Paris, 24–09–1795 - Paris, 29–06–1875), sculpteur — CC0
A museum of optical illusion in central Paris, a branch of an international chain with similar museums in many cities. The displays are rooms and installations that deceive perception: a room where sizes appear inverted, a tilted room that makes standing upright impossible, infinity mirrors, images that change with the viewing angle, and rotating platforms. Everything here is designed to be photographed — and that is frankly why the place exists: you are producing pictures rather than contemplating holdings. What it is should be clear: a commercial entertainment experience rather than a cultural institution. There are no original holdings and no deep scientific content, and the experience itself repeats across every branch of the chain worldwide. Even so it works well with children and teenagers in particular, and it is entirely indoors, so it suits a wet day in Paris — a city that gets plenty of rain. Booking ahead is advisable on holidays and in season, and it fills in the afternoon. Mornings are far quieter. An hour to an hour and a half covers it completely.
The sloping floor makes standing upright impossible — its best-known piece.
Every installation exists to produce a picture — know that going in.
It works well with them — one of few Paris outings teenagers enjoy.
Central Paris, near Beaubourg
Museum of Jewish Art and History (mahJ)A museum in the grand seventeenth-century **Hôtel de Saint-Aignan** in the heart6 minutes walk4.6
Musée des Arts et MétiersThe world's oldest science and technology museum (1794), and the most astonishin6 minutes walk4.5
Bourse de commerceThe newest of Paris's major museums and its boldest architecturally: the histori7 minutes walk4.3
Oasis d'AboukirA large vertical garden on the face of a building at the corner of Rue d'Aboukir7 minutes walk4.5
Tour Saint-JacquesIn a small garden between Châtelet and the Hôtel de Ville stands a flamboyant Go8 minutes walk4.3Looking for halal food near Musée de l'Illusion? There are several options nearby, from Moroccan and Indian kitchens to quick casual spots and places with a view. Confirm the halal status and opening hours before you go — these can change.
Chez le LibanaisHalalA small counter on Rue Saint-André des Arts, one of the busiest pedestrian stree16 minutes walk · $4.5DeryaHalalDerya is a Turkish grill house on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, the street Parisi15 minutes walk · $4.9Al DarHalalAl Dar is a Lebanese restaurant in the Latin Quarter, a few minutes on foot from18 minutes walk · $$4.1Frankly, not on a first visit with few days. The Louvre, the Orsay, Versailles, Notre-Dame and simply walking the city have a better claim on every hour you have. But with children or teenagers tired of museums, or on a wet day when you want something covered and light, it does its job.
The Cité des Sciences at La Villette, vast and built for children; the Musée des Arts et Métiers with its historic machines; and the Jardin des Plantes with its natural history museum and menagerie. These are real institutions with content, and most work on a wet day too.