Although it’s nice to know that Petitcollin, the last French traditional doll factory, is still active, their museum (aka Musée de la poupée Petitcollin d’Étain) is a bit on the creepy side. Founded in 1860 by Nicolas Tin Petitcollin, this iconic brand has specialised in the manufacturing of plastic toys since 1901, and produces more than 30,000 dolls each year. Through a 90 minute guided tour, visitors can see the production and assembly of these dolls inside the workshop, tracking every step of the process from the raw materials until the actual “birth”. The museum, opened since 2009, displays historic photos, documents, and models of the company. So if you ever find yourself in the small and unassuming city of Etain, and dolls don’t freak you out, especially the naked and unfinished kind, then I suggest you pay a visit to Petitcollin’s factory and museum.
Musée de la poupée Petitcollin d’Étain
