MULHOUSE
Former town hall
Construction: 16th century.
History and characteristics: destroyed by fire in 1551, the Town Hall dating from 1432 was rebuilt on the foundations of the previous building. The work was supervised by Michel Lynthumer from Basel. Passing through Mulhouse in 1580, Montaigne described the building as a "magnificent, gilded palace". In 1698, Jean Gabriel took over the trompe-l'oeil decorations. These decorations have been restored and modified several times over the centuries in 1779, 1846, 1893, 1966 and 1988. The building's ex s have also changed: among the alterations made, we can mention the construction of the rear gallery in 1637 and the raising of the second floor in 1778. The exterior decorations depict allegorical figures, symbols of good government and justice, as well as the coats of arms of the Swiss cantons with which Mulhouse was once allied. The double staircase is slightly off-centre. In the Grand Council Chamber, there is something to catch the eye in every direction: the coffered ceiling, mullioned windows and sculpted columns, the safe, painted decorations (coats of arms of the Swiss cantons, mayors' crests), stained-glass windows, etc.
Current use: it houses the Mulhouse History Museum, which traces the history of the former Republic.
Listed as: historic monument since 21 July 1961.
Saint-Étienne Protestant Temple
Construction: 12th to 19th century.
Style: Gothic and Neo-Gothic.
History and characteristics: at 97 metres high, Saint-Étienne Church is the tallest Protestant monument in France. A Romanesque building was consecrated in 1186. In 1351, the choir was rebuilt in the Gothic style. The side aisles were rebuilt in 1504. The tower was raised in 1510 and given a Baroque bulbous dome in 1707. In 1523, Catholic worship gave way to Reformed worship. In the mid-19th century, the municipal council decided to construct a new building. The Neo-Gothic plans were drawn up by the architect Jean-Baptiste Schacre. The spire was inspired by that of Thann Collegiate Church and, more generally, by the spires of buildings in the Rhenish Gothic style. The first stone was laid in 1859. The official inauguration of the building took place in 1866. The building has retained its stalls from 1637.
Special feature: the high tower houses the largest Protestant peal of bells in France, cast in Zurich in 1867.
Listed as: historic monument since 27 July 1995.
Mieg House
Construction: 16th century.
Style: Renaissance.
History and characteristics: The Mieg House is a bourgeois residence bordering Place de la Réunion. The windows on the first floor, as well as the faux stone trompe-l'oeil painted on the façade, are inspired by the architectural style of the Town Hall. The house, in its current form, dates back to the 1560s and was probably built by Valentin Fries. The turret was raised in 1639 and the owner at the time, Louis Witz, affixed his coat of arms to it. The house was given the name Mieg because it subsequently belonged to this family of Mulhouse industrialists, who occupied it until 1840. It is Mathieu Mieg who is responsible for the murals that adorn the façade.
Listed as: the façade and the entire roof were listed as historic monuments in 1929. The interior and the antique decorations were listed in 1994.
Zoological and Botanical Park The Zoological and Botanical Park covers 25 hectares and is home to more than 1,200 animals of 170 different species and 3,500 species and varieties of plants. The third most popular tourist attraction in Alsace is also committed to preserving biodiversity. An innovative and fun educational trail helps visitors understand the challenges of climate change and the actions that need to be taken to protect wildlife. The Mulhouse Zoological and Botanical Park is one of the oldest zoos in France. Founded in 1868, it celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2018.
www.zoo-mulhouse.com
National Automobile Museum
Opened: 1982. Housed in a former textile mill run by the Schlumpf brothers, who were passionate car collectors, it is the largest automobile museum in the world. With 600 masterpieces, it traces the fabulous adventure of the automobile from 1878 to the present day. Exceptional for its history and collections, it includes more than 400 items classified as historic monuments, including the world's largest collection of Bugattis.
Listed as: Historic monument since 1998.
La Cité du Train - French Railway Museum This museum is the largest railway museum in Europe. It presents the major themes of railway history in an animated display, featuring magnificent locomotives and carriages. The other part of this gigantic collection traces the epic story of the railway, from the first locomotive to the present day.
www.citedutrain.com
Museum of Printed Textiles Today, it holds more than 6 million designs, making it the largest centre for textile images in the world. Designers from all over the world come here to seek inspiration. 50,000 textile documents, fabrics, scarves, shawls and more are presented in temporary exhibitions, providing an opportunity to welcome the big names in contemporary textile design: Hermès, Prada, Lacroix, Castelbajac and more.
www.musee-impression.com
Electropolis Museum This museum tells the fascinating story of electricity, which has spanned centuries of experiments, discoveries, theories and inventions, from ancient times to the present day! The multimedia show "La Grande Machine" (The Great Machine), the jewel in the crown of Mulhouse's industrial history, along with games, experiments and videos, provide a better understanding of what happens when electricity flows...
www.electropolis.edf.com
LE MARKSTEIN
Markstein ski resort This winter sports resort forms a cross-country skiing area with the Breitfirst site and the toll-based Haute Route Nordique, which also connects it to the Grand Ballon. It was a stage of the Alpine Ski World Cup in 1983 and 1987 and saw legendary Swedish slalom skier Ingemar Stenmark win twice. Located in the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park, it lies between 1,020 and 1,268 metres above sea level on the Route des Crêtes. Markstein's sporting heritage dates back to the first Nordic skiing and ski jumping competitions in the early 1900s. Since then, the site has been a venue for numerous outdoor sporting and cultural activities. In summer and winter alike, Markstein is the ideal place to enjoy the great outdoors and its magnificent panoramic views: summer tobogganing, mini golf, archery, hiking (GR5), mountain biking, cycling, paragliding, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, restaurants, farm inns, accommodation and mountain huts are all available.
Serret Museum (in Saint-Amarin, 11 km away) Serret was the general who commanded the terrible battles of Hartmannswillerkopf. The museum inherited its name and history. It is housed in the former courthouse, which became a "mobile military hospital" during the first battles of 1914. The entire ground floor is devoted to the Vosges front from 1914 to 1918 and the Alsatian resistance from 1940 to 1945. The valley and its history... We are here on the grounds of the former Murbach Abbey, which also founded a glassworks, a unique collection of which is housed in the museum. Other excavated objects come from the castles of Friedburg and Wildenstein.
Wildenstein Castle (16 km away)
Construction: 14th century.
Style: fortified castle.
Characteristics: located on a rocky outcrop of glacial origin, access to the castle is via a 20-metre-long tunnel dug into the rock. Two round towers, ramparts and remains of the stables. History: in 1312, the Count of Ferrette, protector of Murbach Abbey, was authorised to build a castle on Mount Wildenstein and to cede it as a fief to the lords of Bollwiller. In 1324, when the Ferrette family died out, their heirs, the Habsburgs, lost interest in the valley and the castle fell into ruin. Murbach Abbey acquired the castle in 1536 and had it rebuilt between 1552 and 1570 to protect its possessions. During the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), the castle was successively taken by Lorraine and French troops. It was dismantled shortly afterwards and, like many other sites, used as a stone quarry.
Current use: since 2006, it has been the subject of archaeological excavations and restoration work.
Vivarium du Moulin (16 km away) Get to know insects, tarantulas, centipedes and other creatures. A wide variety of arthropods, most of them native to tropical regions, occupy the three floors of this former mill.
Saint-Michel and Saint-Gangolphe Collegiate Church in Lautenbach (17 km away)Construction: 11th, 12th and 19th centuries.
Style: Romanesque
History: the former collegiate church has undergone many changes over the centuries. The nave probably dates from the 11th century, while the transept, choir and flat chevet date from the 12th century. Its vaulted porch is one of the most beautiful in the region. However, the building was completely restored in 1859. The decorations and additions, such as the towers, added by the 19th-century architect are debatable, although they do not detract from the overall aesthetic.
Special features: guided tours for groups all year round by appointment with the Guebwiller Tourist Office.
Wesserling Park (20 km away) Wesserling Park, covering an area of 42 hectares, is part of an innovative heritage environment. It consists of five sumptuous gardens classified as "Remarkable Gardens": a formal garden, an English-style park, Mediterranean terraces, a vegetable garden and the farm's rural park. Wesserling Park is a comprehensive site that is integrated into local life. Its former multifunctional role (as a place of work and a place to live) continues today with the addition of "leisure and tourism" activities: walks, a textile eco-museum, artists' workshops, a pocket theatre, a designers' pavilion, and more. In this green setting, numerous events take place throughout the year: mixed garden festival, Christmas in the Gardens, concerts, plays, artistic and cultural exhibitions.
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