I stumbled onto this place when traveling around France a few years back. Had no idea it was there, just walked around a corner and there it was. An absolutely wonderful experience.

They also have a three storey carousel that is truly something to behold and remarkable in it’s own right.

I saw those wonderfull gigantic automat giants cross Berlin ten years ago. Magic.

Than decided last year to go to Nantes to see the full monty: The creators, the elephant . The fish carousel.

It's worth the trip.

If you are like me, still enlighten by creativity, arts, craft and engeneering, go there. It is a wonderfull place.

France at its best. And Nantes is worth a full WE (château in center, modern beaux arts museum,etc).

Oh, so that's where Artichoke's machines ended up. That's their Sultan's Elephant, from 2006.[1]

[1] https://www.artichoke.uk.com/project/the-sultans-elephant/

The elephant was built by French theater company Royale de Luxe in 2005 for a performance in France, before it traveled to London and elsewhere in 2006 [1]. It looks like two people who worked for them later started The Machines of the Isle of Nantes, and built the replica [2].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sultan%27s_Elephant

[2] http://www.royal-de-luxe.com/uploads/documents/2014_08_05_fr...

It’s a replica AFAICT [1]

[1] https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_éléphant

definitely “The Sultan’s Elephant, or La visite du sultan des Indes sur son éléphant à voyager dans le temps, was first performed in Nantes in 2005, on the centenary of Jules Verne’s death. This production was commissioned by the cities of Nantes and Amiens and received a special grant from the French Ministry of Culture and Communication.” https://www.artichoke.uk.com/project/the-sultans-elephant/ar...

The same company has a branch in Toulouse, with a pretty cool minotaur.[1]

[1] https://www.halledelamachine.fr/en/1203-2/

I had no idea. That thing is incredible

My favorite French and soon to be Spanish historic recreation theme park is https://www.puydufou.com/en