Écomusée d’Alsace | Mulhouse Tourist Office

History of the museum

Saving heritage in a living place

The idea of an Écomusée was born in 1971 when a group of students created the association ” Maisons paysannes d’Alsace ” to preserve and save old buildings.

With this goal in mind, members of the association are dismantling buildings in the Sundgau (the southernmost region of Alsace) to reassemble them on a piece of land they have obtained in Ungersheim, a few kilometers from Mulhouse.

The first reassembled house, in 1980, then launched the creation of the ecomuseum, which acquired institutional support and opened in 1984.

Twenty buildings then made up the Écomusée d’Alsace, to which were added a fortified tower, a sawmill, a potter’s workshop…and thousands of objects or pieces of furniture donated in particular by the Alsatians themselves !

A playful and interactive visit

It is to a moment full of surprises and action that the Écomusée d’Alsace invites you! Indeed, it does not only present the built heritage of the region but literally stages it in a village rich today with 80 buildings representative of Alsace.

All the history of these houses of yesteryear permeates each wall, each object, each aisle of the museum. The plunge into the past is immediate and complete : eyes and hands discover the delicacy of the constructions, the nobility of the materials, the excellence of the know-how.

Inescapable, the artisans reveal to the public all the facets of their trades : from the potter to the barber, from the baker to the blacksmith, they work for the safeguarding of this intangible heritage, transmitted from generation to generation. It is an enchantment to see them perform these sometimes spectacular and often centuries-old gestures!

The Écomusée d’Alsace is all this, and much more : animations, exhibitions, workshops, etc. take place throughout the year to make it a resolutely lively and exciting place.

3 reasons to visit the Écomusée d'Alsace

Summer at the Ecomusée d'Alsace : zoom on nature

Situated in a green setting, the Écomusée d’Alsace knows how to take advantage of the summer or spring mildness to put its assets even more forward.

You will discover a stunning biodiversity, but also “La Forêt des Jeux”, a real family playground, dedicated to environmental protection.

Many events punctuate the year, such as “La Fête au Village”, Folk’Estival, exhibitions, participatory workshops, the festival of “Arts du Feu”, etc.

The Ecomusée d'Alsace during the Christmas period : the enchantment invites itself to the village

Throughout the month of December, the Écomusée d’Alsace goes into Christmas time: the authenticity and beauty of the houses immerse you in the Alsatian traditions of yesteryear as you discover family heirlooms, the smells of waxed floors, fir trees, good food, and more. Then explore the grand alley of today’s Christmas with its shimmering lights! Here the houses are dressed in plant ornaments, sound elements and fairy lights…

Play in the numerous daily animations, take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, taste the famous Alsatian “bredeles”, share your best wishes on the Advent wreath, visit the small craft market… And feel the magic and warmth of an authentic Christmas!

A museum that is well rooted in the community

The Écomusée d’Alsace has found its place in the lives and hearts of Alsatians.

Whether it’s simply to walk the nature trails or to get involved via participatory workcamps, everyone can get their hands dirty. Besides, the Écomusée d’Alsace works with 300 volunteers, very invested in the life of the place.

An open-air museum with a thousand facets, which will never cease to amaze you!