Unusual: they reconstruct the history of France and Narbonne in Playmobil®

Gaëlle Gillet is a literature teacher and Vincent Rousseau is a history teacher converted into a crisis manager. Above all, they are two Playmobil enthusiasts^®. To the point of embarking on historical reconstructions and exhibitions entirely composed of the famous figurines. They came to meet the public as part of the “Playmobil” exhibition^® at the palace: forward history” (https://www.Narbonne.fr/playmobil-au-palais-histoire). This can be discovered with free access until January 12, 2025 at the Saint-Martial chapel.

Also read:
Playmobil at the Palais: an exhibition in Narbonne that opens our history to all

Playmobil exhibitions^® have become our only leisure!

What is the mission of your association “Playmo du Sud”?

Gaëlle Gillet and Vincent Rousseau: This is a family association created in 2012 and based in Cuxac-d'Aude. By popularizing science and culture using Playmobil^®we want to provide the public with knowledge in ethnology, history, literature… whether in a museum or a supermarket. We travel throughout France and since 2012, we have presented more than 300 exhibitions which have brought together more than a million visitors. Playmobil exhibitions^® have become our only leisure!

What was the main difficulty in the Narbonne exhibition and how did you go about it?

For the historical part, we worked with Marc Azéma (archaeologist researcher and documentary director, Editor’s note). For an exhibition like the one in Narbonne, we quickly reach a thousand hours of work, not counting the hours of research. We must be close to reality and stick to the story, while respecting the public's imagination, and taking care not to commit anachronisms.

You also have to customize some Playmobil^®take them apart and reassemble them, or completely rework them, repaint them and remake their clothes in polymer clay. It was also necessary to fit a maximum number of elements into a minimum amount of space. The exhibition brings together 500 figures in total, of which around 360 are arranged on the central plateau. The reconstructions of the cathedral, the town hall square with Via Domitia, etc. are produced using a 3D printer. We had to set up the exhibition wall by wall, paint certain elements on site, cut, add and do a lot of things on site. We spent three days installing everything.

I've been collecting Playmobil for 35 years^®. I dedicate 150 m to them³ of space

Do you have a large collection of figurines?

Vincent Rousseau: I've been collecting Playmobil for 35 years^®. I dedicate 150 m to them³ of space spread over two houses and I have more than 150 themes. My largest collection is about the Crusades and has 20,000 figures on a board. In March, we will exhibit in Salses-le-Château on a space of 120 m² entirely filled with Playmobil… We like challenges!

Is the exhibition on the history of Narbonne aimed at children or adults?

Both, from the age of 5 to 105! There is no need to be a collector and our exhibitions often bring together three generations: the grandmother, the children, the grandchildren. In addition, there are winks in each exhibition: in Narbonne, Harry Potter and Superman have slipped among the characters, this draws on the sense of observation of all generations. The Playmobils^®it's childhood and nostalgia, but we can make very qualitative exhibitions with a popular toy. By visiting the exhibition, people discover the history of Narbonne in seven scenes beyond the ancient period, while enjoying historic buildings such as the St-Martial Chapel and the Archbishops' Palace.