Halle de la Machine

This place was outstanding, I thought I would enjoy it but it superseded my expectations. The level of craftsmanship and detail in these designs is second to none. Also the fact that demonstrations are happening throughout the day makes you feel included and part of something instead of just looking at it. Fun for the whole family.

Visited while on holiday from the UK If you’re in the area, you have to visit this place. The machines are so realistic and enormous that they absolutely blew my mind. The exhibitions are incredibly creative and you really have to experience them first-hand! They had an interactive experience running when I visited where the Minotaur and another of the machines came into the Hall and blew fog and water all over the crowd. The whole experience was amazing and I highly recommend it!

My sense is that we visited this on an off day and that on the right day this would be brilliant. The machines are awesome, and the massive creatures are awe inspiring when you see them move, the dragon coming to life and the Minotaur were real highlights that beautifully fuse art and engineering with music. Located around the hall are lots of smaller musical machines and some fairground games, all very cool and a lot involving fire. They have repurposed everyday objects into all sorts of amazing mechanisms and contraptions that do all sorts of unexpected things. The challenge when we visited was that there weren’t many staff around and so almost no demonstrations, and for me that is where things fell apart. The machines are cool when you see, play and touch them or watch them in action, when they are stationary it is a bit dull. The design sketches and projection rooms are interesting but this was hard work at times. That said I can see on another day with more demonstrations in action it would be amazing. Worth noting you need some French understanding and even some google translate to be able to understand stuff

Visiting the Halle de La Machine is like stepping into a new dimension of art — one where creativity, engineering, and storytelling come together in the most unexpected and delightful ways. This is not your traditional museum or gallery; it’s a living, breathing performance space where machines become characters, and mechanics become music. The installations are not just impressive feats of engineering — they’re artistic expressions in motion. Each machine is brought to life through carefully choreographed animations, some of which even create music using unexpected objects. From industrial parts to everyday items, everything is reimagined to demonstrate the beauty of sound and movement. It's a powerful reminder that inspiration can come from anywhere. What truly sets this place apart is how it invites you to see engineering not just as a technical skill, but as an artistic language. The performances are not only imaginative and creative, but also incredibly pleasant to watch. There’s a poetic rhythm in the way each machine moves, and a sense of wonder in the storytelling that surrounds them. In short, the Hall of Machines is an inspiring place that redefines what art can be. Whether you’re a curious child or an adult with a love for invention, it’s an unforgettable experience that sparks creativity and leaves you smiling.

Halle de la Machine is an excellent day out for young and old alike. We purchased tickets in advance for the museum and to ride the Minotaur. If you only want to visit the Halle, I don't think prebooking is essential, however, if you want to combine it with a Minotaur ride, definitely book in advance to take advantage of a combined ticket offer. The website said to allow 1.5-2 hours, although we stayed much longer. You'll receive a hand stamp, so you can go in and out as you please. Opposite, there are some restaurants and also an Auchan, if you want to get some food. There is a cafe at the Halle but we couldn't see any food being served there on the day we visited. The staff all look like they absolutely love their jobs, which isn't surprising, when they get to demonstrate bizarre contraptions all day. This is not hi-tech stuff, there's more of a steam punk vibe going on. (The Minotaur and his companions, though, are extremely technical but you just don't see it when you're observing because the detailing to bring them to life is so very impressive.) The exhibits range from the gigantic and awe inspiringly impressive Minotaur and dragon, down to frankly ridiculous but highly entertaining devices, such as the fishing rod sugar lump dispenser. Many of the exhibits had a Heath Robinson quality about them - watching the demonstration of Nutella being applied to bread has never been so curiously slow and yet entertaining! We rode on the Minotaur, which was a really fun experience and well worth doing, I think moreso to watch the reactions of people watching it go by! There were families of all ages and every single person seemed happy and awestruck in various ways. If you're in Toulouse, don't miss this fantastic day out. If you have guests with disabilities in your group, reduced rates and free carer tickets are available. We took a Bolt from the city centre, which cost around €12.

I really enjoyed the experience, but a few things you should now before going. It is not in the downtown area so you really have to plan goinng. It is close to other museums, so maybe it is a good plan to go to a few the same day. The place is small, it is not a big exhibition and from the big machines only the minoteur has a show. It is key to speak and understand some French to have the entire experience. Taking that in consideration, I loved it! I really loved the machines and the place. It is incredible what the machines can do and how they can amaze us still. There is a unique machine-like mary-go-round crossing the street that you should visit too.

Definitely worth a visit , there's a carousel too , an exhibition, cafe , toilets , and rides on the minotaur too , not just for kids , you may need to book rides online as it does get booked up sometimes.

This is a large exhibition and performance space that opened in 2018 as part of Toulouse’s Piste des Géants redevelopment project in the Montaudran district, a historic site of early aviation. It showcases the creations of the French artistic collective La Machine. These machines are not only exhibited statically but are also brought to life through regular demonstrations, combining performance, engineering, and storytelling. The most iconic piece is Le Minotaure — a 14-meter-tall, 47-ton mechanical minotaur that can carry visitors on its back as it walks through Avenue de Montaudran. Alongside L’Araignée (the giant spider), these machines produce steam, fire, mechanical soundscapes, and the scent of oil, creating a fully immersive sensory experience that blends industrial art with fantasy.