A weekend in Mulhouse | Explore Grand Est

A city-trip weekend in Mulhouse

Mulhouse, queen of industry, but also queen of art! With its half-timbered houses, cobbled streets and painted walls, Mulhouse is as if art had escaped from the galleries: the town itself is an open-air museum!

If you're curious, take advantage of your weekend to discover its hidden surprises during a treasure hunt. Starting in the town centre, wander the streets, answer the riddles and unravel all the mysteries as you discover the town at your own pace. Are you in Mulhouse for Christmas? Take on the unusual challenges at its famous Christmas market to find out all about Alsatian customs!

For a heritage-focused stay, continue your weekend in Mulhouse with a visit to the Cité de Train - SNCF Heritage Centre and discover an extraordinary collection. Do you prefer cars? Then head to the Musée National de l'Automobile, another of Mulhouse's must-sees, and immerse yourself in the history of our automotive heritage.

Finally, if mechanical engineering isn't really your cup of tea, Mulhouse still has a few surprises up its sleeve! As the cradle of the Alsatian textile industry, Mulhouse has contributed to the success of printed cotton in France. If you want to find out more about this expertise, come to Mulhouse at Christmas! Every year, a new fabric is created to decorate the town's Christmas trees and facades. It's simple: a weekend in the streets of Mulhouse will be the perfect opportunity to combine city-trip and heritage!

A magical night in Mulhouse and the surrounding area

For those who want to visit the city centre with ease, a stay in a hotel in the heart of Mulhouse is the ideal base. Spacious rooms and excellent suites, discover the typical warm welcome of Alsace. Wake up to a hearty breakfast before venturing out into Mulhouse town centre. In the evening, to recover from the day's discoveries, take a dip in the hotel swimming pool or enjoy a blanc d'Alsace* at the Michelin-starred restaurant... Welcome to Alsace!

Do you prefer a bed and breakfast to a hotel? Close to the town centre, treat yourself to a stay in an old half-timbered farmhouse renovated as an eco gîte. Enjoy a unique overnight experience in a warm, authentic setting typical of Alsace's charm. In the morning, set off to explore Mulhouse and its museums! Or perhaps you'd prefer to spend a little more time in the sauna? After all, holidays are also about relaxing!

If you're dreaming of somethingunusual for your weekend, swap the typical Alsatian houses for a typically... Mongolian dwelling! In a warm, traditional setting, spend a night in a real yurt and immerse yourself in Mongolian culture! In Mulhouse, even your cosy nest will take you on a journey over the weekend!

Mulhouse: when expertise goes hand in hand with fresh air!

With its half-timbered houses, its heritage, its know-how and its gastronomy, Mulhouse is a city with more than one trick up its sleeve!

Make the most of your weekend in Mulhouse to try your hand at Mulhouse crafts! From the basics of marquetry to those of art bookbinding, you too can get your hands dirty before leaving with your own creation! For a weekend or a lifetime, in Mulhouse, we're all artists and heritage craftsmen!

To extend your immersion in Alsatian culture, head to Ungersheim for a visit to the Écomusée d'Alsace. Exhibitions, events, traditional festivals and local cuisine... Discover all the secrets of Alsace in this huge open-air museum!

Fancy getting out into the countryside during your stay? Mulhouse is also home to a zoo and botanical park committed to animal conservation! Visit the oldest zoo in France and discover animal and plant species from all over the world in workshops and on walks!

Dreamers, meanwhile, can look forward to the world's first aerial park, inspired by the world of Saint-Exupéry. With its thrills and loops, it's a day full of surprises... and magic!

Finally, if you're a fan of outdoor activities, you'll also find something to suit you in the Mulhouse area! Velorail, an introduction to microlight flying, a first flight... Enjoy some sensational experiences during your weekend in Mulhouse!

* Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation.

: Mulhouse is located in the east of France, in Alsace. It is the second largest city after Strasbourg. A cosmopolitan city close to Switzerland and Germany (whose borders are less than 40 km from the city centre), it is also close to the beautiful town of Colmar. It is also home to the largest airport in the Grand Est region, Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg International Airport.

: Mulhouse is a destination full of surprises that can be visited all year round!

In summer, make the most of the warm sunshine to take part in a guided tour of the city between two lengths of swim in your hotel swimming pool. Admire the street art hidden in the streets and take time to enjoy lunch in a traditional restaurant in the centre!

In spring and autumn, enjoy the mildness of the season by collecting outdoor activities! It's the perfect time to see nature in all its glory on a visit to the Alsace Ecomuseum or on a microlight flight!

Finally, in winter, the snow transforms the Alsatian landscape and covers Mulhouse in a blanket of white! As the festive season approaches, the famous Christmas market welcomes you for a traditional holiday! Fabrics on the facades and treasure hunts in the craftsmen's huts: enjoy a typical Alsatian end-of-year holiday in Mulhouse!

: Accommodation is a vital part of a successful holiday! For a comfortable weekend in Mulhouse, booking a hotel room in the city centre is an excellent way to make the most of the streets decorated with street art. If you prefer the independence of a gîte to a hotel room, Mulhouse is the place for you! Whether it's a family-friendly gîte right in the centre of town, or a discreet little nest in the surrounding countryside, there's something for everyone in Alsace!

: With its street art, half-timbered houses and famous museums, such as the Musée de l'Automobile, Mulhouse is a popular destination for travellers!

Whether you prefer to stay in a hotel or a gîte, we advise you to book your accommodation in advance! In the high season, or during the festive season, certain types of accommodation can become overcrowded, particularly hotel rooms in the city centre and unusual gîtes. By planning ahead and booking your stay in advance, you'll not only benefit from great prices, but you'll also be guaranteed a night in that hotel room just a stone's throw from the city centre that you've been dreaming of!

A town with a rich industrial past, Mulhouse is none other than the "European capital of technicalmuseums ". A title that speaks volumes about its heritage, which is waiting to be discovered during your stay in Alsace!

Here is a non-exhaustive list of museums to visit in Mulhouse:

The Cité du Train - SNCF Heritage, Europe's largest railway museum,
The National Automobile Museum - Schlumpf Collection, the largest automobile museum in the world,
The EDF Electropolis Museum, Europe's largest museum dedicated to electricity.
The Musée des impressions sur étoffes, the largest textile image centre in the world,
The Musée des Beaux-Arts, located in a former mansion nicknamed the "Villa Steinbach",
The Ecomuseum of Alsace, the largest open-air museum in France,
The Mulhouse Historical Museum, housed in the former town hall.

Mulhouse is home not only to a large number of museums, but also to a significant built heritage as a result of Alsace's eventful history.

Here are a few ideas for cultural activities to try out during your weekend in Mulhouse:

Look for the Klapperstein, a stone in the shape of a head hanging from the town hall building,
Enter Mulhouse's Saint-Étienne temple, the tallest Protestant monument in France,
Explore the streets in search of street art and painted walls,
Taste Alsatian specialities on the Place de la Réunion, Mulhouse's central square.
Admire the decorated ceilings of the Pharmacie des Lys.

: Mulhouse is the place to be if you want to discover the region of Alsace! As well as its heritage and expertise, another must-see is its gastronomy. From your hotel restaurant to the winstubs (traditional bistros), take the time to enjoy a delicious lunch typical of Alsace. Flammekueche, sauerkraut and baeckeoffe (a mixture of marinated meat, vegetables and potatoes), as well as the finest Alsatian wines*... Mulhouse: a veritable festival of flavours for your palate!