A wax museum is a cultural venue presenting life-size reproductions of celebrities — entertainers, athletes, historical figures, political leaders — crafted in wax and composite materials, hand-sculpted and hand-painted, then staged in immersive themed settings. Visitors move freely among the figures, pose for photos, and in modern formats, take part in interactive experiences built into the trail.
Each figure is sculpted from dozens of precise measurements and photographic references: skin, eyes, hands, hair — all worked separately before assembly. The realism achieved consistently surprises first-time visitors.
The technique dates to the eighteenth century. Marie Tussaud, a Swiss sculptor trained in Paris, opened the first permanent wax museum in London in 1835 — marking the beginning of a format now present in more than twenty countries. In Alsace, it is the Wax of Legends in Colmar that brings this format to life — with a strong local identity and an interactive dimension that sets it clearly apart from traditional wax museums.
In a classical museum, you follow a trail, read labels, and observe. Enriching — but you remain a spectator.
In a modern wax museum, the boundary between visitor and scene disappears. You sit next to George Clooney. You take a selfie with Rihanna. You walk into a recording studio and the microphone is waiting. This isn’t a historical re-enactment — it’s a staged world where you become part of the story.
Contemporary wax museums have added three layers of immersion:
- Sound: audio points that trigger a character’s voice or anecdote
- Interaction: games, challenges, and staged scenes where the visitor plays an active role
- Set design: environments built scene by scene, not just velvet ropes and pedestals
The practical difference: where a classical museum takes 45 minutes to walk through, an interactive wax museum takes 1 to 1.5 hours to live.
Wax of Legends is an interactive wax museum located at 12 place de la Cathédrale, Colmar, Alsace, France. It features 60 life-size figures — international stars and Alsatian legends — with 30 audio points and 15 interactive experiences included in the entry ticket. Visit duration: 1 to 1.5 hours.
This is not a franchise branch. It’s a museum rooted in its region — designed to bring a global star and a local legend face to face in the same corridor, steps from Colmar’s cathedral.
| Element | Number |
|---|---|
| Life-size wax figures | 60 |
| Audio points | 30 |
| Interactive experiences | 15 |
| Visit duration | 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Audio guide | Included — 6 languages (FR, EN, DE, IT, ES, NL) |
Music: Michael Jackson, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Edith Piaf, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Céline Dion, Mozart.
Cinema: Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Harrison Ford, Angelina Jolie, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Louis de Funès.
Sport: Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Rafael Nadal.
Politics: Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, Donald Trump — staged together at an airport in an international press photo composition.
Art & Science: Pablo Picasso, Alphonse Mucha, Albert Einstein.
Alsatian Legends (10 characters staged):
- Sainte-Odile, patron saint of Alsace
- The Devil of Hugstein
- The Wassermann
- The Storks
- The Headless Man
- The Golden Carriage
- The White Ladies
- The Giant of Nideck’s Daughter
The museum also features a dedicated room for Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi — sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, born in Colmar in 1834.
Penalty shootout: face Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, life-size.
Karaoke in the studio: you step into a recording studio, the mic is there, Mick Jagger is beside you.
Poker game: with Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
Walking the red carpet: alongside Harrison Ford.
More: class with Einstein, music and general knowledge quizzes, live camera on the stork’s nest at the Collégiale Saint-Martin, selfie stations.
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | 12 place de la Cathédrale, 68000 Colmar, France |
| Opening hours | 10am–6pm, 7 days a week including public holidays |
| Last entry | 5pm |
| Annual closure | January only |
| Audio guide | Included — 6 languages |
What is a wax museum?
A wax museum is a venue presenting life-size reproductions of celebrities crafted in wax and composite materials, hand-sculpted and painted. Figures are staged in themed settings. In modern formats, interactive experiences let visitors take an active role.
How are wax figures made?
Each figure is built from precise measurements and detailed photographic references. Body, face, skin, eyes, and hair are crafted separately and assembled. Paint is applied by hand. Making a single figure typically takes several months.
How does Wax of Legends Colmar differ from major wax museums in European capitals?
Strong local identity (10 Alsatian legends, Bartholdi room, central Colmar), 15 interactive experiences (penalty shootout, studio karaoke, poker, red carpet), and a human scale allowing a 1 to 1.5 hour visit at your own pace.
Is Wax of Legends open all year?
Open 7 days a week including public holidays, 10am–6pm (last entry 5pm). Only closure: January.
Can the visit be combined with other activities in Colmar?
Yes. Combined passes with Choco-Story and Vino-Storia available at the ticket desk. The Musée Unterlinden and Musée Bartholdi are a few minutes’ walk away.
Information verified by the Wax of Legends team (June 2026).
Cover photo: © Serge NIED — Wax of Legends
