Mulhouse (Haut-Rhin)

Mulhouse

Mulhouse (Haut-Rhin) mini guide

Mulhouse used to be part of Switzerland until 1798 when it voted to become part of France. It does not have much of an old town but it does, however, have some wonderful museums, and these make Mulhouse worth a visit in themselves.

Places worth a visit are

• Hôtel de Ville (16th century). The town hall was built in 1553 in the Rhenish Renaissance style. Montaigne described it as a "palais magnifique et tout doré" ("a splendid palace gilded all over") in 1580. It is known for its trompe l'oeil paintings, and its pictures of allegories representing the vices and virtues.
• The Rebberg (the word reb means vine) district consists of grand houses inspired by the colonnaded residences of Louisiana cotton planters. Originally, this was the town's vineyard. The houses here were built as terraces in the English style, a result of the town's close relationship with Manchester, where the sons of industrialists were often sent to study.
• Workers' quarter (mid 19th century), inspired by districts in Manchester
• Place de la Bourse and the building of the Société Industrielle de Mulhouse, in the Nouveau Quartier (19th century)
• Musée National de l'Automobile de Mulhouse (featuring the Schlumpf collection)
• French National Railway Museum
• Museum of Electricity (Electropolis)
• Museum of Printed Textiles (Musée de l'Impression sur Étoffes)
• Botanical gardens and zoo