musees des automates / modeles reduits

The autumn at Museum at Irish was an interesting. Obviously the items on display are very similar in that they all make some kind of movement that there is a variety. Our favourite was the pork butcher making sausages. There was an explanation as to how the models work. The museum is small and was fully accessible for me in a wheelchair it was not an expensive visit and was well worth it. We did not have enough time to visit this museum and the museum with the miniature models on the same day but the ticket we bought covered us the two days. The staff were polite and helpful I would recommend this is a visit it does not take long but it is fascinating.The model Museum was really quite fantastic the initial display as you walk in looks very amateurish but don't be full that's not the case with the rest of the models. The models of the different ships were fantastic in their details. There is a short show which is really lovely and quite interesting in the way this short show is put on.If you are a model train enthusiast then there are three setups for this each one with working trains. The detail in these displays was fantastic and there was a gallery so you could look down on the models.Like the automat museum this was a very good visit and I would recommend this.This museum is fully access simple although I do not know about the toilet facilities.

For us, this is the #1 attraction in La Rochelle. It is Amazing. Actually 2 Museums, Automats (mechanical models) and Scale Models. The 1st is set in a neighborhood in Paris circa 1900 with "shops" all with the automat you might have seen in the window. Many of these were created to advertise various products. All of them are in working order, just push the button. It's all quite charming.The 2nd has exact scale models of cars, ships and planes. There is a good English handout too. There is a short show with model ships gliding along with narration in French. The last room has 3 huge model railroad sets. My jaw dropped when I went in. We had a great couple of hours here and would return. If you are with children (or a child at heart), do not miss this.

It is great for model railway buffs but I had seen the museum in Lyon and this wasn't a patch on it. The automatons are mostly dolls in costume. The older ones from fairgrounds etc are more interesting.

I'm not usually into this kind of thing but I was amazed at the complexity of some of the puppets, and, when you take into consideration how long ago some of them were made, the effect is tremendous. Please go!

We enjoyed looking at the models, of which there are many. They put on a little show involving automated ships and it was actually quite funny. The woman operating the show could not get the ships to work properly. Christopher Columbus' ships weren't being very cooperative that day. We were all sitting in the little amphitheatre and giggling like school children.The automatons, while fascinating, were the stuff of which nightmares are made. Some of them were downright spooky. The collection is extensive and well preserved. The information is in French, understandably. I was hungry to know more about the exhibits.This would be a good place to pass an hour with children, on a rainy day.

Two independent museums next to each other, one with models of cars, ships and trains, the other with automatons. We went to the muse des modeles reduits first during a rain shower and found it a diverting if odd collection of car then ship models but with a satisfyingly large model train layout. The text of the information for each model is available in English on request at the reception. Don't miss the sound and light display with moving ships - all in French but just surrender yourself to a different take on history and enjoy the squeaky 1970s era special effects! The Musee des Automates was intriguing and even a little creepy but great fun. The full scale Parisian street is excellent.

We visited on our second day trip to La Rochelle as our 3 year old is transport mad. Though it is the sole creation of one man with a passion for mechanics and transport, we all really enjoyed this charming museum, and our son was in absolute heaven. The museum consists of models of cars, boats and trains. Our son adored being able to press buttons to see them move, and we enjoyed learning about the different famous boats/ cars in the English language booklet.

Automates was excellent we thoroughly enjoyed it so much to see. Modeles Reduits was a big disappointment, mainly because everything was in French - they didn't cater for any other nationality even although they are a Tourist attraction, and you really need a translation to fully enjoy all the models.

The "settings" have all been modernised in this unique establishment. The creative use of basic mechanisms are both fun and educational. A must for any UK Technology teacher (there is a DVD on sale too).Easy walk for town centre, plenty of parking on site if you do drive (no need to) watch the opening hours - there is a two hour lunch break.Great fun for kids with a second museum next door created by the same person.€7 each well spent.

The Museum of Small Scale Models is particularly fun, informative, and interesting. The receptionist gave us a guide book in English so we could appreciate what we were seeing. Models of cars lead into ship models, with the final room a huge display of model railroads. The Museum of Automatons has fascinating displays. The two museums are next to each other, be sure to buy a combined ticket to both.

Spent a couple of hours here during a rain shower. It offers a large collection of automates, the Paris street setting at the rear particularly pleasant.

Our boat trip was cancelled because of the bad weather so we decided to visit these museums instead. Let's say that unless you're a big doll or model fan, you'll just enjoy the kitch on the place.It was a good couple of hours spent even if a bit creepy...

Explanation in French only, of course, but apart from this little disturbance everything is really enjoyable! We just dropped in, because it was raining, but in the end we found it difficult to leave the place! For the small children it may not be soooo interesting, but for a little bit bigger, who are interested in machines, it will be a really interesting and remarkable museum.

We'd been to La Rochelle before so decided to try something new and found the wonderful Musees des Automates & des Modeles Reduits at a bargain price of 12 euros per person for a combined ticket. Very easy to find. The automates were wonderful and having been to another similar museum but in the Dordoyne we were really impressed on the quality and layout of both these museums; the second museum having a wonderful railway set out and, not to be missed, a good continually run show with the naval history.

We visited here (Musee Des Automates ONLY, so cannot comment on the Modeles Reduits), after reading Trip Advisor reviews. We really wished we hadn't.The entrance I felt, was over-priced or such a small museum. The museum contains what could be described as clockwork puppet figures, of various varieties (Musee Des Automates ONLY has figures of people/animals, literature we had read made it sound much more than this). It is on one level and can easily be completed in 15 minutes. I am sure there are some that might enjoy this, but for us (children over the age of 10), there was zero appeal. It ends with a larger mocked up scene, with lots of moving stuffed toys, which is cheesy beyond belief! We found the Natural History Museum to be far better and far cheaper (more than a third of the cost).