Which museums to visit in Mulhouse? My opinion
We often start by visiting Mulhouse by going to one of its museums. The city hosts many of them on various themes. The industrial history of the city is highlighted, but the fine arts and science also have their place. There is something for everyone!
This article will be updated as I visit them, I haven’t visited them all yet!
Cité de l’Automobile de Mulhouse – Schlumpf Collection
The Cité de l’Automobile is THE museum to do for all car lovers…But not only! Because I have to admit, I liked it! And yet, I am not a car lover at all.
The Cité de l’Automobile in Mulhouse, which houses the immense Schlumpf collection, is the largest automobile museum in the world. It is very simple, we see cars as far as the eye can see… While walking in the alleys, we go back in time by admiring the different models.
I didn’t look in detail at all the cars but found the audio guide very interesting. In addition, the proposed animations are fun (start a car with a crank, experience a rollover in a car…). I promise, it’s worth the visit!
I liked
- The audioguide included in the entrance ticket, which offers interesting and amusing explanations (long live the anecdotes!) about the cars and the eras in which they were built
- The place itself, really beautiful!
- The proposed animations, which make the visit a little more lively
- The children’s play area, pretty cool!
I liked less
- That’s still a lot of cars, I admit I didn’t observe them all in detail
Practical information
Rates
Find here all the rates of the Cité de l’Automobile.
Opening hours and access
Find here the opening hours and access to the Cité de l’Automobile.
Animations
Some fun activities are offered at regular intervals during the day. You can start a vintage car with a crank (not easy!), or experiment with rollovers in a car (ouch!). At 11 am and 3 pm during weekends and holidays from April to the end of September, the show “En Piste!” allows to admire some cars in motion. I haven’t seen it but it looks very nice from a video I saw!
Hungry?
The museum has a restaurant, a café and a cafeteria. I have not tested it.
Museum of Textile Printing
Mulhouse has a very rich industrial past, especially in the textile industry. The museum of cloth printing allows you to immerse yourself in this part of history.
You can learn about the (turbulent!) beginnings of textile printing and the different techniques used, admire old machines and beautiful fabrics.
Finally, beyond the printing on fabric itself, we learn a lot about the history of Mulhouse, which allows us to better understand the city today.
The Musée de l’impression sur étoffes also offers very nice temporary exhibitions all year long: don’t hesitate to go and visit it!
I liked
- The beautiful fabrics on display
- Explanations on the techniques of printing on fabrics
- Learn more about the history of Mulhouse, including a very well done film on the 1st floor
I liked less
- The technical explanations…sometimes a little too technical!
- Not very playful
Practical information
Rates and opening hours
Find here all the prices and opening hours of the museum of the impression on fabrics of Mulhouse.
The Museum of Textile Printing is located in downtown Mulhouse.
Animations
The museum of printing on fabrics organizes workshops and courses. Please contact the museum for more information.
Hungry?
The Museum has a small café. I have not tested it.
Cité du Train – Railway Museum
The Cité du Train is the largest railway museum in Europe. Train lovers, this museum should excite you! For the others, my feeling is a bit more mixed.
On the one hand, the museum has a very impressive collection of trains that are worth seeing. On the other hand, I found the whole thing lacking in explanation.
I liked the first room, built like a movie set (quite lively) but I found the second one, retracing the evolution of trains since 1844, a bit boring.
For the children, a small playroom is available. Quite relaxing for the parents too!
I liked
- Superb collection of trains from all eras
- The “Parcours spectacle” room and its staging
- Audioguide included in the entrance fee
I liked less
- The “Quays of History” room: the explanations of the audio guide are too descriptive and detailed. They lack anecdotes and popularized explanations! The same goes for the ultra-technical signs on the trains.
- The external part “Railway panorama”: no explanation either.
Practical information
Rates
Find here all the rates of the Cité du Train.
Opening hours and access
Find here the opening hours and access to the Cité du Train.
Animations
Children can apparently take a ride on a tiny train, which I saw but was not running the day I came. It seems that there is also one for adults, but I haven’t seen it!
Hungry?
The Museum has a restaurant called “Le Mistral”. I didn’t test it but the setting is quite nice.
EDF Electropolis Museum
The EDF Electropolis Museum is a museum entirely dedicated to electricity. We discover the history of electricity and its different uses… Which reminds us, if need be, the preponderant place of electricity in our lives!
The subject is not simple but the museum is rather lively, so it is pleasant to visit, even with children. There are many cool models, objects and activities. For example, the electrostatic theater, where one’s hair stands on end!
I liked
- Immerse myself in the history of something I use daily
- Quite a playful museum
- Partner of the Pass Alsace
I liked less
- Explanations of the beginnings of electricity are sometimes a bit complicated. Not always easy to popularize!
Practical information
Rates and opening hours
Find here all the prices and opening hours of the EDF Electropolis museum.
For Pass Alsace holders, the entrance is free!
Animations
Two animations are proposed every day: the electrostatic theater and a multimedia show. Check the schedule here.
Ecomuseum of Alsace
TheEcomuseum of Alsace is my favorite museum. It allows you to discover the Alsatian culture in a lively way.
It is not located in Mulhouse but not far, about 20 minutes by car
To learn more, I invite you to read the complete article I wrote on theEcomuseum of Alsace.
Parc de Wesserling – Textile Ecomuseum
TheParc de Wesserling and its textile eco-museum is usually classified among the museums of Mulhouse. So I mention it here, but you should know that it is actually not very close to Mulhouse (40 minutes by car, 1 hour by public transport).
It is in any case a very pleasant place. For more information, I invite you to read the complete article I wrote about the Parc de Wesserling and the textile Ecomuseum.
Museum of Wallpaper in Rixheim
The Wallpaper Museum is not located in Mulhouse but in Rixheim, a small neighboring town. It is located in the building of the world-famous Zuber wallpaper factory in Rixheim, which was established in 1797. It is the oldest wallpaper factory still in operation!
The permanent exhibition of the museum includes a machine room (with interesting explanatory panels allowing to understand the history of the wallpaper), a video room showing two films (old but interesting) and several rooms sheltering panoramas (wallpapers decorating whole rooms). These are really the strong point of the museum: the panoramas are really beautiful and impressive! The Wallpaper Museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, which I really enjoyed both times I went. They allow to realize the variety of wallpapers that can exist,
The Wallpaper Museum could use a little sprucing up, but it is interesting. I don’t see wallpaper the same way at all since then!
I liked
- Superb panoramic views
- Interesting movies
- Temporary exhibitions
- Partner of the Pass Alsace
I liked less
- Deserves a little refreshment
- Prohibited photos (I had an authorization for some, the others were provided by the museum itself)
Practical information
Rates and schedules
Here you can find the rates and opening hours of the museum. A printing demonstration takes place at 3:30 pm every day from June to September.
For Pass Alsace holders, the entrance is free!
Animations
Groups can book guided tours.
La Grange à Bécanes – Rhineland Motorcycle Museum
If you like old motorcycles, the Vintage barn (Rhineland Motorcycle Museum) is a must-see. It is a small museum, which nevertheless has an impressive collection of motorcycles dating from 1920 to 1960. I am not a connoisseur, but I enjoyed discovering these beautiful old bikes. As a bonus, there are even some bikes presented, designed by a motorcycle manufacturer 😉
It is possible to visit this museum during a bike ride in the Rhine strip. This makes a nice stop for fans!
I liked
- Nice collection of motorcycles
- Small, well-appointed museum
I liked less
- You have to be an amateur to appreciate it, few explanations
Practical information
Rates and opening hours
Find here all the practical information of the Grange à Bécanes.
Kunsthalle Mulhouse (Contemporary art center)
Not yet visited!
Museum of Fine Arts
Not yet visited!
Historical Museum of Mulhouse
Not yet visited!