aventuro Back to map A
Museums

Toy museum of Catalonia

4.4 · 1,581 reviews
Nostalgic and scholarly
Toy museum of Catalonia, Carrer de Sant Pere, 1, 17600 Figueres, Girona, Spain
Interesting facts
1

The museum building was formerly the Hotel París, where Salvador Dalí and other notable figures frequently stayed.

2

The collection includes the childhood toys of Salvador Dalí and his sister Ana Maria.

3

The museum archives contain a significant collection of photographs showing children with their toys from the late 19th century onwards.

4

It houses the original 'Don Osito Marquina,' a teddy bear that belonged to the poet Joan Salvat-Papasseit.

5

The museum features a specific section dedicated to the 'Jocs de guerra' (war games) and their role in the cultural education of children throughout the 20th century.

6

The exhibits include a rare collection of cardboard masks from the early 1900s.

7

The museum operates a specialized documentation center for researchers studying the history of games and childhood.

Overview

The Toy Museum of Catalonia (Museu del Joguet de Catalunya) houses a collection of over 10,000 items spanning the history of toys in Catalonia and beyond. Located in the former Hotel París in Figueres, the museum showcases mechanical toys, board games, puppets, and early 20th-century dollhouses. The institution holds significant cultural archives related to childhood play, including personal items from renowned artists like Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and Federico García Lorca. Exhibits are organized chronologically and thematically, highlighting the evolution of materials from wood and metal to plastic. Visitors can view early examples of cinematic toys, including praxinoscopes and zoetropes. The museum also functions as a center for research into the social history of toys. It is widely recognized for preserving unique, fragile pieces that document the recreational habits of previous generations.

Photo spot

The central staircase and the brightly lit display cabinets featuring the historic dollhouse collection.

Insider tips

Focus on the temporary exhibition hall, which often rotates smaller, thematic collections not found in the permanent galleries.

Look for the small multimedia screens integrated into the exhibits that demonstrate how vintage mechanical toys originally functioned.

Combine your visit with the nearby Dalí Theatre-Museum for a complete cultural day in Figueres.

What to avoid

Rushing through the permanent collection; the history behind specific donated pieces is often more compelling than the objects themselves.

Good to know

Closed on Mondays during the off-season; open daily throughout the summer months.

Etiquette

Maintain a quiet volume; refrain from touching the antique displays as many are fragile.

Plan your visit
Typical visit
1.5-2 hours
Best time to visit
Weekday mornings to avoid the peak tourist crowds visiting from the nearby Dalí museum.
Address
Toy museum of Catalonia, Carrer de Sant Pere, 1, 17600 Figueres, Girona, Spain
Website
42.267, 2.961
Get directions
Details
Key exhibitsSalvador Dalí's childhood toys, antique mechanical figures, and historic dollhouses

Frequently asked

Plan for about 1.5-2 hours to see the highlights.

The best time to visit is Weekday mornings to avoid the peak tourist crowds visiting from the nearby Dalí museum..

The central staircase and the brightly lit display cabinets featuring the historic dollhouse collection.

Close by you'll find Dalí Theatre-Museum, Castell de Sant Ferran, Birthplace of Salvador Dalí.