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{{Short description|Model village; miniature building models}}
[[File:Building from Ljubjana at Mini Europe.jpg|thumb|[[Mini-Europe|Park Mini-Europe]] in [[Brussels]], Belgium ]]
[[File:France Miniature - Village provençal (012) (16825561147).jpg|thumb|Model of a Provençal village in [[France Miniature]], [[Élancourt]], France ]]
A '''miniature park''' is a display of miniature buildings and [[model (physical)|model]]s, usually as a recreational and tourist attraction open to the public. A miniature park may contain a model of a single city or town, often called a '''miniature city''' or '''model village''', or it can contain a number of different sets of models.

==History==
[[File:General view, Bekonscot.JPG|thumb|Bekonscot, in England, was one of the first model villages to become a tourist attraction]]
There is evidence to suggest the existence of private model villages and miniature parks since the 19th century, but it was only in the 1930s to 1950s that the genre became tourist attractions.{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}} Early examples include [[Bekonscot]] and [[Bourton-on-the-Water model village|Bourton-on-the-Water]]<ref name="Bourton" /> in the UK and [[Madurodam]] in The Hague.{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}}

==Variations on a theme==
Most model villages and parks are built to a consistent [[scale model|scale]]; varying from 1:76 as used by the intricately detailed [[Pendon]] in England up to the 1:9 scale of [[Wimborne Model Town]].

There has been a move away from the model village concept since the mid- to late 20th century towards a miniature park concept.{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}} Model villages are typically larger-scale, sit in a cohesive miniature landscape and allow viewing and physical interaction with the exhibits, such as publicly accessed streets and urban areas. Miniature parks however, are primarily concerned with the display of exhibits in their own right, viewed from a distance. Model railways, rivers and roads may provide a continuation between miniature parks exhibits.

==List of notable miniature parks==

===Europe===

[[File:Overview Minmundus.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|[[Minimundus]]]]

====Austria====
* [[Minimundus]], [[Klagenfurt]]

[[File:View of site from Atomium.JPG|thumb|upright=0.7|[[Mini-Europe]]]]

====Belgium====
* [[Mini-Europe]], [[Brussels]]

====Denmark====
* [[Legoland Billund]], [[Billund, Denmark|Billund]] (the original Legoland)
Many Danish towns also have extensive miniature towns from historic periods (normally 1900s). Some of the most significant include:
* {{ill|Den Historiske Miniby|da}}, [[Fredericia, Denmark|Fredericia]] (circa 1849)
* {{ill|Kjøge Mini-By|da}}, [[Køge]] (circa 1865)
* {{ill|Minibyen i Varde|da}}, [[Varde, Denmark|Varde]] (circa 1866)
* {{ill|Kolding Miniby|da}}, [[Kolding, Denmark|Kolding]] (circa 1860-1870)

[[File:FranceMiniature.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|[[France Miniature]]]]

====France====
* [[France Miniature]], [[Élancourt]]
* [[Mini World Lyon]]
* [[Storybook Land Canal Boats]], [[Disneyland Park (Paris)]]

====Germany====
* [[Legoland Deutschland]], [[Günzburg]], [[Bavaria]]
* [[Miniatur Wunderland]], [[Hamburg]] (indoor)

[[File:Italia in miniatura 3.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|[[Italia in miniatura]]]]

====Italy====
* [[Italia in miniatura]], [[Rimini]]

[[File:Madurodam pays bas.JPG|thumb|upright=0.7|[[Madurodam]]]]

====Netherlands====
* [[Madurodam]], [[The Hague]]

====Portugal====
* [[Portugal dos Pequenitos]], [[Coimbra]]

====Russia====
* [[Grand Maket Rossiya]], [[Saint Petersburg]] (indoor)

====Slovakia====
* [[Park miniatúr]], [[Podolie]]

====Spain====
* [[Catalunya en Miniatura]], [[Catalunya]]

====Switzerland====
* [[Swiss Vapeur Parc]], [[Valais]]

[[File:MiniKiev.Olga.JPG|thumb|upright=0.7|[[Kyiv in Miniature]]]]

====Ukraine====
* [[Kyiv in Miniature]]

[[File:Babacombe Model Village Overview.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|An overview of the [[Babbacombe Model Village]]]]

====United Kingdom====
* [[Babbacombe Model Village]], [[Babbacombe]], [[Devon]]
* [[Bekonscot]], [[Beaconsfield]], [[Buckinghamshire]]
* [[Bourton-on-the-Water model village]], [[Bourton-on-the-Water]], [[Gloucestershire]], opened in 1937, now a grade II [[Listed building|listed structure]]<ref name="Bourton">{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Caroline |title=Bourton-on-the-Water model village gets Grade II listed status |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/apr/19/bourton-on-the-water-model-village |website=The Guardian |date=18 April 2013 |publisher=Guardian News & Media Limited |access-date=15 January 2021}}</ref>
* [[Haigh Hall Miniature Railway]], Wigan
* [[Legoland Windsor]] in [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]]
* [[Pendon Museum]], Pendon, Oxfordshire
* [[Southport Model Railway Village]]
* [[Tucktonia]], [[Dorset]], closed in 1985
* [[Wimborne Model Town]]

===Americas===
[[File:Cullen Garden and Miniature Village, Whitby,ON.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Former [[Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village]], [[Whitby, Ontario]]]]

====Brazil====
* [[:pt:Mini Mundo|Mini Mundo]], [[Gramado]], [[Rio Grande do Sul]], opened in 1981

====Canada====
* [[Tivoli Miniature World#Canadia Miniturama|Canadia]] [[Niagara Falls, Ontario]], opened in 1966 - closed
* [[Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village]], [[Whitby, Ontario]], opened in 1980 - closed in the mid-2000s
* [[Little Canada (attraction)|Little Canada]], [[Toronto]], Ontario, opened in 2021
* [[Woodleigh Replicas]], [[Burlington, Prince Edward Island]], closed
* [[Tivoli Miniature World]], [[Jordan, Ontario]], closed in the 1990s

[[File:EpcotGermanyMiniRailway.JPG|thumb|upright=0.7|Archetypal replica of a German village at the [[Germany (Epcot)|Germany]] Pavilion in [[Epcot]], [[Disney World]]]]

==== Chile ====
* {{ill|Mundomágico|es}}, [[Santiago, Chile]]

====United States====
* [[Tiny Town, Colorado|Tiny Town]], [[Morrison, Colorado]], opened in 1921
* [[Tiny Town (miniature park)|Tiny Town]], [[Springfield, Missouri]], opened in 1925
* [[Miniature Railroad & Village]], [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] opened 1920s
* [[Ave Maria Grotto]], [[Cullman, Alabama]], opened in 1933
* [[Roadside America]], [[Pennsylvania]], opened in 1935, closed 2020
* [[Storybook Land Canal Boats]], [[Disneyland]], [[California]] opened in 1956
* [[Palestine Park]], [[Chautauqua Institution]] in [[Chautauqua, New York]]
* [[Splendid China (Florida)]], opened in 1993, closed 2003
* [[Holy Land Experience]], [[Orlando, Florida]], the park has a scale model of Jerusalem, Israel
* [[Forbidden Gardens]], [[Katy, Texas]], opened in 1997, closed 2011
* [[Living Desert Zoo and Gardens]], [[Palm Desert, California]], opened in 1971
* [[San Diego Model Railroad Museum]], [[San Diego, California]], opened in 1981
* [[Legoland California]], [[Carlsbad, California]], opened in 1999
* [[Legoland Florida]] Winter Haven, opened 2011

===Asia/Pacific Region===
[[File:Window on the world manhattan island.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|[[Window of the World]], [[Shenzhen]]]]

====Australia====
* [[Cockington Green Gardens]], [[Canberra]]

====China====
* [[Splendid China]], [[Shenzhen]]
* [[Window of the World]], [[Shenzhen]]
* [[Beijing World Park]]
* [[Grand World Scenic Park]], outskirts of [[Guangzhou]], closed

[[File:TMII Jambi Pavilion.JPG|thumb|upright=0.7|Jambi Pavilion in [[Taman Mini Indonesia Indah]]]]

====Indonesia====
* [[Taman Mini Indonesia Indah]], [[Jakarta]]

[[File:Tobu World Square St Peters Basilica 1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Replica of St Peter's Basilica in [[Tobu World Square]], Japan]]

====Japan====
* [[Tobu World Square]], [[Kinugawa Onsen]], [[Nikkō, Tochigi]]
* [[Legoland Japan]], [[Nagoya, Aichi]]

====Malaysia====
* [[Islamic Heritage Park]], [[Kuala Terengganu]], [[Terengganu]]
* [[Legoland Malaysia]], [[Iskandar Malaysia]], [[Johor]]
* [[Tropical Village]], [[Ayer Hitam]], [[Johor]]

====Thailand====
* [[Mini Siam]], [[Pattaya]], [[Chonburi Province|Chonburi]] 
* [[Dusit Thani]], [[Phaya Thai District|Phaya Thai]], [[Bangkok]],

===Middle East===
====Israel====

* [[Jerusalem’s Model in the Late 2nd Temple Period]], [[Israel Museum]], [[Israel]]
* [[Mini Israel]], [[Latrun]], [[Israel]]

[[File:Ayasofya miniaturk.JPG|thumb|upright=0.7|Hagia Sophia at [[Miniatürk]]]]

====Turkey====
* [[Miniatürk]], [[Istanbul]]

{{Clear}}

==Featured Landmarks in miniature parks==
* [[St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna|St. Stephen's Cathedral]]
* [[Statue of Liberty]]
* [[Saint Peter's Basilica]]
* [[Cathedral of Brasília]]
* [[Toronto]] [[CN Tower]]
* [[Eiffel Tower]]
* [[Hochosterwitz Castle]] in Austria
* [[Sydney Opera House]]
* [[Tower of London]]
* [[White House]]
* [[Taj Mahal]] 
* [[Baiturrahman Grand Mosque]]
* [[Castillo de Coca]]
* [[Atomium]] 
* Many [[train]]s of [[Europe]]
* The [[Space Shuttle]] and its launch pad
*[[Atomium]]
*[[Manneken Pis]]
*[[Egyptian pyramids]]
*[[Lighthouse of Alexandria]]
*[[Great Sphinx of Giza|Sphinx]]
*[[International Commerce Centre]]
*[[Arc de Triomphe]]
*[[Notre Dame de Paris]]
*[[Taipei 101]]
*[[Leaning Tower of Pisa]]
*A [[Netherlands]] windmill
*[[Big Ben]]
*[[Tower Bridge]]
*[[New York City]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031216212516/http://www.i-a-m-p.org/aboutparks.asp International Association of Miniature Parks]: Almost all members are in Europe.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927174023/http://www.agilitynut.com/h/ramerica.html Agilitynut feature]
* [http://www.gaugeone.org The Gauge One Model Railway Association]
{{Amusement Parks}}

[[Category:Miniature parks| ]]


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