Madame Tussauds is a wax sculpture museum headquartered in London. It has branches in twenty-four cities, including Amsterdam, Berlin, Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, Sydney, and Istanbul. The museum was founded in England by the master of wax sculpture, Marie Tussaud (1761-1850).
Madame Tussauds Istanbul is a major tourist attraction having the waxworks of famous and historical figures, as well as popular film and television characters played by famous actors, successful sportsmen, and special artists. It was opened in Istanbul, Grand Pera on Istiklal Street, in 2016 with 55 wax sculptures.
Since then, the museum continues to bring new sculptures, and new famous names are constantly being added to its wax sculpture collection. You can enjoy this extraordinary experience with Istanbul Tourist Pass for free of extra charge. If you wonder about interesting places to visit in Istanbul like this, you may also have a look at the Museum of Illusions Istanbul which is conveniently located nearby the museum.
Marie Tussaud’s Life
Marie Tussaud as born as Marie Grosholtz in Strasbourg, France in 1761. Her mother worked as a maid for Philippe Curtius who was a physician skilled in wax modelling in Bern, Switzerland. Marie Grosholtz started learning the art of wax modeling from Curtius when she was a child.
Grosholtz created her first wax sculptureof Voltaire in 1777. When she was 17 years old, she became the art tutor to Madame Elizabeth at the Palace of Versailles. During the French Revolution, she made models of many prominent figures. She inherited Curtius's great collection of wax models following his death in 1794. Then, she traveled around Europe with a touring show from the collection, for the next 33 years. She married François Tussaud in 1795 and changed took his surname. She called her show Madame Tussaud's show from then onwards. madame tussaud istanbul, madame tussauds opening times, madame tussauds opening hours, istanbul madame tussauds, madame tussauds istanbul characters, madame tussauds istanbul address, madame tussauds in istanbul, madame tussaud ticket price, madame tussauds opening times, madame tussauds istanbul ticket price, madame tussauds istanbul wax museum.
Marie Tussaud settled down in Baker Street and opened a museum in London in 1835.The Chamber of Horrors was one of the main attractions in her museum. In the exhibition there were the sculptures of victims of the French Revolution and figures of murderers and other criminals. Some of the other famous people that she added to her collection include Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Henry VIII and Queen Victoria.
Some of the sculptures that were made by Marie Tussaud herself still exists today. The gallery originally contained approximately 400 different figures. With the fire outbreak in 1925, coupled with German bombardment in 1941, the sculptures were severely damaged and erupted.
Madame Tussauds in Istanbul
Madame Tussauds Istanbul’s Group General Sarper Hilmi Süner states that there is a great effort behind the museum. First, a survey group was set up while bringing the museum to Turkey. The questions of the survey were, 'Which artist do you want to see the most and which figure would make you the happiest?
A study was conducted and the findings were then examined in detail one by one to create a list. After the list, the survivors were contacted personally. The legal heirs or relatives of the deceased were contacted and studies were initiated to bring their wax sculptures to Istanbul.
Photoshooting was a grueling part that took many hours, during which nearly 350 photos were taken. Many details such as eye colors, finger sizes, and handprints were replicated by Turkish sculptures.
Many archives can be accessed with the advantage of the 250-year history of the museum in the studies on the deceased.
Some figures emerged as a result of 4-7 months of work according to their dynamic and static nature. For instance, the construction of Suleiman the Magnificent sculpture was completed in 8 months. Why the construction phase takes so long is all about the details and perfection.
Who To See In Madame Tussauds Istanbul
You can see one-to-one wax sculptures of your favorite famous people in Madame Tussauds Istanbul and take fun selfies with your favorite actor or politician. Here are some of the most interesting wax figures you can find in Madame Tussauds Istanbul:
Music:
- Madonna
- Beyoncé
- Lady Gaga
- Demi Lovato
- Bob Marley
- Zeki Müren (Turkish musician)
- Müslüm Gürses (Turkish musician)
- Aleyna Tilki (Turkish pop singer)
- Murat Boz (Turkish pop singer)
- Justin Bieber
Cinema:
- Marilyn Monroe
- Audrey Hepburn
- Jennifer Lawrance
- Steven Spielberg
- Tom Cruise
- Tarık Akan (Turkish actor)
- Jackie Chan
- Spider-Man
Sportsmen:
- Muhammad Ali
- Maria Sharapova
- Rafael Nadal
- Lionel Messi
Science & Culture:
- Marie Tussaud
- Albert Einstein
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Sabiha Gökçen (First Turkish Female Pilot)
- Steve Jobs
- Yaşar Kemal (Turkish Novelist)
VIP Party:
- Angelina Jolie
- Brad Pitt
- Johnny Depp
- Julia Roberts
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Beren Saat (Turkish actress)
- Tolga Çevik (Turkish comedian)
- Kerem Bursin (Turkish actor)
History & Leaders:
- Atatürk (The founder of the Turkish Republic)
- Fatih Sultan Mehmed (The conqueror of Istanbul)
- Mimar Sinan (The Imperial Architect)
- Tansu Çiller (Turkish politician)
Stars of the Middle East:
- Nancy Airam
- Maya Diab
- Eile Saab
- Carla Di Bello
- Bin Baz
It is worth to take a historical tour in the Ottoman and the Republican periods in Madame Tussauds Istanbul. The museum consists of historical and cultural heroes and approximately 60 famous names from the world of arts, sports and politics.