In the heart of the village, the Mechanical Music Museum is the lovely surprise of Les Gets, to enjoy in any weather. It gathers one of Europe’s richest collections of instruments that play by themselves: automata, music boxes, barrel organs, fairground organs, player pianos. And above all, you hear them work — the visit is alive with sound.
What you see
The collection spans two centuries of mechanical music: delicate little music boxes, animated automata, large colourful street organs and fairground organs from carousels of old, mechanical pianos and violins. During the visit, guided or commented, the pieces are set in motion: you discover how, before recording, music was made to play. It’s playful and astonishing, for children and adults alike.
Booking
The museum is visited by ticket, on site, according to seasonal hours (open summer and winter, with live demonstrations). Check the times of the commented visits, where the instruments are set going, with the museum or the tourist office.
Good to know
Any weather. The ideal activity for a rainy day or a break between days of skiing or biking.
For families. The automata and the instruments in action fascinate children.
Commented visit. Favour the slots when the pieces are set going: that’s the whole point.
Duration. Allow about one hour to an hour and a half.
Also worth seeing in Les Gets
Round it out with skiing in winter, mountain biking or hiking in summer. Back to the destination: Les Gets.