The Musée d’Automaton in Limoux, France

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The last few days have been a bit mixed as we are travelling through France in our motor-home. I pick up tourist brochures at any chance I get and we had a few things lined up to see. Firstly in Limoux we wanted to see the Piano Museum but when, after a lot of trouble, we managed to find a parking spot nearby, we discovered that the museum was closed as it was a Tuesday. I did know about ‘official’ museums being closed on Tuesdays but had forgotten it. However very close by was the Musée d’Automaton which was very interesting. The attendant said her mother makes the models using clay for faces, hands, etc. Then a cast is made from silicon and the final model is of resin. The models are beautifully done. The girl and her mother make all the costumes, all of which are very elaborate. The girl and her boyfriend make all the automatons and scenery etc. We were very impressed. Vince has taken a video clip which I’ll be able to show you one day but in the meantime, here is a photo of a very small section of the exhibition. You need to imagine heads turning and hands moving,and the chest of the reclining figure moving up and down.