Hobby/Toy Stores?

My husband collects die-cast cars...are there any toy/hobby stores in Paris that some one can suggest? We%26#39;ll also be in Normandy, Versailles %26amp; Giverny, in case there%26#39;s one there. Thanks...ML

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There is, of course, the toys department stores like Galeries Lafayete or Printemps.

There is also some places specialized in die-cast cars. For example there is one just in the Porte Maillot mall.

The oldest one in Paris is Au Paquebot Normandie 247 rue Tolbiac 75013 Paris

EOL has two shops convenient for tourists, one in Saint Germain des Pres, one near le Louvre. Moreon their site http://www.eolhobby.com/

You should check the newsstands too, as there is some magazines with collection diecast cars on sale these days too. Interestingas they are cheap (5euros or so) and of specific cars as far as i%26#39;ve seen this morning!

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I%26#39;m not sure that any of these Paris toy stores meet the demands of a specific toy %26#39;..collector..%26#39; but you can check out the toy department at the Le Bon Marche store dwon in the 6eme at Metro: Sevres-Babylone.

Perhaps the Paris equivalent of F.A.O. Schwartz, is Au NAIN BLEU, 408 rue Saint Honore, 75008, Metr: Madeleine-- http://www.au-nain-bleu.com/

But I suspect that these will simply be rather ordinary toy stores to someone with a particular affinity. Though not a store, what a serious collector might consider is a visit out to the fascinating collections at the MUSEE des ARTS FORAINS--Collections Jean Paul Favand out in the Pavillions de Bercy. This is a collection of all sorts of carousels, mechanical musical machines, toys, fairs %26amp; carnival attractions. The curators of these collections don%26#39;t exactly encourage visitors, since the museum has always been hard to find and keeps odd-hours (ope only Sat %26amp; Sun from 2-to-7 PM) for visits. But if you can make the time and effort to get there, it%26#39;s well worth it-- http://www.pavillons-de-bercy.com/ --Check out the web site to see if it sparks your interests.