Mulhouse and its surroundings in two days

In the morning

Off to the Waldeck forest in Mulhouse! This is where Lilia’s parents go jogging, Axel does hip-hop and Amandine enjoys nature.

Right next to this forest is the Mulhouse Zoological and Botanical Garden. There are lots of cute animals here and you can often see babies. It’s also a place where you can learn a lot about animals and how to protect them in a way that’s more respectful of our planet. The gardens have flowers all year round and there’s a large play area.

Just a short drive away, you can wander through pretty villages with half-timbered houses like Zimmersheim. All these colours are beautiful!

In the early afternoon

Back in their neighbourhood, on Avenue Salengro, Lilia takes you to Les 2 avenues, a restaurant serving both Greek and Turkish cuisine. A real treat every time!

Lilia’s family return home and hop on their bikes, heading for the Canal du Rhône au Rhin, as far as the Guinguette d’Illfurth. It’s an easy ride, even for children, and there’s a reward at the end of the road. Sometimes they stay for dinner at the guinguette, but mostly they go there to taste their delicious tarts, where the meringue is 3 times as high as the tart! Yum!

In the morning

We head for the Écomusée d’Alsace: here you can see farm animals and find out how people lived in Alsace… a very long time ago! You can get your hands dirty in the craftsmen’s workshops and taste what people in Alsace ate back then.

For lunch

Lilia and her family eat Alsatian food at La Taverne de l’Ecomusée d’Alsace. She loved their tartes flambées. It’s the perfect way to build up your strength before heading off to the Parc du Petit Prince.

The afternoon

There’s never a dull moment at Parc du Petit Prince! There are lots of activities: attractions, water games, playgrounds (that’s more for her little sister), shows… Lilia loved the Serpent and the Atlantique Sud, well, the logs that make you come out soaking wet! And the view from the balloon is just… wow!

What a day! If you’ve still got a bit of courage, come into town and discover the Square de la Bourse in Mulhouse. Lilia’s family like to get some fresh air there, and then, on the square, there’s the Au Bureau restaurant with its great decor. You’ll always get a warm welcome!

10am

The family starts the day at the National Automobile Museum – Schlumpf Collection. With the children, they always take the little train through the aisles and play their treasure hunt. They also love taking photos of themselves in front of all the beautiful cars. The children love the Bugatti Veyron and Nadiya is a fan of the prestige area with the Bugatti Royales.

12.30pm

The family returns to the city (3 tram stops away, it’s super convenient!) and has lunch at Café Mozart, for the breathtaking view over Place de la Réunion and the Temple, but above all for… the desserts! Yum! The children always have a chocolate éclair, and for Nadiya, it’s all up to her!

2pm

Digest your meal in the Parc Steinbach! While the children have fun on the wooden playground, parents can relax in the sun among the park’s remarkable trees.

3pm

The Théâtre de la Sinne is right next door to the park. When there’s a show for all the family, they like to go there. It’s a real old-fashioned theatre, with a great atmosphere and decor that takes you back in time!

6pm

They end their day in Wallach Park, with a picnic before nightfall. They live right next door, so it’s a bit like their second garden. They always bring a game (pétanque, ball, mölki…). It’s one of the largest parks on the outskirts of Mulhouse, with a superb formal garden and a magnificent rose garden.

11am

This morning, Nadiya and her family are off to Nomad, a place they love! She really likes the place itself, because it’s an old industrial building with a trendy recycled interior. The kitchen is modern and caters for all tastes. Whether you’re with family, friends or lovers… the place really appeals to everyone. But this morning, the family is coming for its incredible brunch! The parents leave the children to play in the space reserved for them, so they can enjoy themselves and take their time.

1pm

Now that they’ve eaten well, they’re off to visit two other iconic museums: the Cité du Train and the Musée Electropolis, right next door to each other. At the Electropolis Museum, the children love the playful side. They can experiment in the electrostatics theatre, understand how electricity works by taking part in the little games, or complete the treasure hunt.

At the Cité du Train (Railway Museum), you really feel transported back in time. The children love trains, and their eldest is a history buff. And so is Nadiya! If you want to find out how people travelled in the olden days, then this is a must-see. It’s really the old-fashioned side that they love: seeing the old suitcases, the beautiful leather carriages, the old sleeping cars… It doesn’t exist any more, and it’s a dream come true!

6pm

Before heading home, the family heads to the Belvédère (a steel tower built in the 19th century in the Rebberg district). Here they can enjoy a breathtaking view of Mulhouse, the Vosges, the Black Forest and sometimes even the Alps!

10am

The discovery begins in the heart of Mulhouse’s historic centre, particularly in its charming pedestrian streets, where numerous small shops invite you to take a stroll. L’Artichaut, on rue Henriette, stands out as a pretty boutique showcasing local designers. Further along, in rue de la Moselle, a stop-off at Galerie Engelmann is a must. This friendly place, where everyone knows everyone else, exudes a warm atmosphere. You can sit down and enjoy a coffee or an ice cream on the sun-drenched terrace, before taking a stroll through the neighbouring bookshop.

12pm

For lunch, Fernand recommends a visit to Mealtin’Potes, a popular spot for its tasty cuisine and beautiful summer terrace, ideal for enjoying the warm weather.

2pm

Then it’s on to the Zoological and Botanical Garden, located in the Rebberg district. This vast and impressive site is as attractive for its magnificent botanical garden as for its committed approach. More than just a zoo, it is actively involved in the preservation of flora and fauna. A perfect destination for families, especially as children love to run from one area to the next, fascinated by the animals. The park also offers a wide range of activities and events throughout the year, including themed tours, a plant market and an animal cartoon festival.

5pm

Before dinner, a visit to the studio of the artists’ collective Le Schlager is a must. Together, they have transformed a former industrial site into a real place to live, where work, creation and sharing come together.

10am

Head for Mulhouse’s Market, a lively place where all social classes and nationalities come together. This market is particularly popular for the diversity of its stalls and the quality of the products on offer at affordable prices. Favourites include the outdoor alley to the left of the market hall, where small producers sell their fresh produce, the fish market inside, and above all the spice stall, which is packed with treasures such as pickling mixes, teas, herbal teas, fried onions, almonds and rare peppers.

12pm

At lunchtime, Fernand recommends eating there. In winter, the restaurant Aux Halles du Marché, overlooking the market hall, is an unusual option. With its view over the market and its large, friendly tables, it serves market cuisine, featuring local specialities at very reasonable prices. In summer, try one of the food trucks outside, such as the new Lebanese food truck.

2pm

To digest, there’s nothing like a walk or cycle ride along the towpath of the Canal du Rhône au Rhin, linking Mulhouse to the Sundgau. You can also cycle to the guinguette in Illfurth for a gourmet break. Their generous meringue pie is a real treat.

5pm

On their return to Mulhouse, Luana suggests a diversion to the Union Bouliste Mulhousienne boulodrome, located behind Dornach station. This venue, steeped in family history, welcomes young and old alike to play pétanque or boule lyonnaise in a friendly, leafy setting. To reinvigorate the club, a section for younger players was recently opened, encouraging inter-generational exchanges. It’s a great way to share and relax!

9am

The market is one of her favourite spots in Mulhouse. On Saturday mornings, she stocks up on vegetables and spices before heading home to cook. She also enjoys stopping off for a coffee, either at the Halles restaurant or in the little café to the right of the entrance, opposite the baker. Her favourite addresses include the Afghan caterer for a takeaway meal, and the new baker whose bread she praises for being so tasty that it can even be eaten on its own. A passionate baker, she enjoys discussing bread-making with him.

12pm

Back at home, she cooks with her purchases and shares a convivial meal in her garden, located in an emblematic district of Mulhouse: the Cité Manifeste. This contemporary architectural project, created in the 2000s by five architects, revisits the codes of the original Cité ouvrière.

2.30pm

For a digestive stroll, Lili sets off on foot towards Motoco, one of Europe’s largest artists’ residences, housed in a former industrial building on the DMC site. Along the way, she talks about the history and development of this historic working-class housing estate, a district that has left a lasting impression on her over the years.

4pm

In the afternoon, Lili likes to head into the city centre for a gourmet break at Café Mozart on Place de la Réunion. This charming place has already inspired her to draw everyday scenes, like ladies sharing a pastry and a hot drink in conversation.

6pm

Then Lili gets on her bike and continues exploring. She crosses the Fonderie district to discover the building nicknamed ‘the Cathedral’ where she works. Formerly a workplace for SACM (Société Alsacienne de Construction Mécanique) workers, it has now been renovated to house La Kunsthalle contemporary art centre and part of the Université de Haute-Alsace.

She continues her walk along the Rhone-Rhine canal, admiring the locks as far as Illfurth, where she stops off at the Sun Pub. This friendly place is perfect for a drink or a snack in a simple, warm atmosphere.

9am

One of the great advantages of living in Mulhouse, according to Lili, is its proximity to Basel in Switzerland, which can be reached in just 30 minutes by train. To get to the station, she chooses to enjoy the city on foot. On her way, she passed the ring-shaped building, a rare sight in France, which always catches her eye. She then made a diversion to the Arcades Omnino, on Place de la Bourse, to enjoy a speciality coffee. In the morning, the sun illuminates the arcades, making the place particularly pleasant.
Once at the station, before setting off, she takes the time to get out her notebook and sketch everyday scenes as she observes travellers. Once in Basel, she advises visitors to plan their visit so as to make the most of this city, a veritable paradise for art lovers: Beyeler Foundation, Kunstmuseum, Tinguely Museum or even the Cartoon Museum – there’s no shortage of choice.

4pm

Back in Mulhouse, it’s time for a sweet break. Lili always hesitates between Cabosse’s homemade eskimos and Gelato’s tasty scoops of ice cream. Once she’s made her choice, she likes to enjoy her sweet treat in the Parc Steinbach, an ideal place to relax.

5pm

Nearby is the Fine Arts Museum, which she considers a precious source of inspiration. It’s also a place where she likes to take her students for drawing sessions, so stimulating are the works on display.

7.30pm

To round off her day, Lili returns to the Place de la Bourse for a culinary stopover in Spain, more precisely in Galicia, at Los Buenos Diás. Esther and Marina, the mother and daughter who run the place, always offer a warm and friendly welcome, making every visit memorable.

10am

When the weather is fine, he likes to visit the Mulhouse Zoo and Botanical Garden. With its splendid gardens and animals, it’s a must-see, especially for his daughter, who loves the place. Just 2 km from the city centre, this haven of greenery is a real asset to the town.
Other places he particularly enjoys are the Automobile Museum, the Cité du Train – Railway Museum and the Electropolis Museum. Mulhouse has so much to offer in terms of culture and heritage, it’s hard to choose!

12.30pm

Close to the Zoological and Botanical Garden, Laziz recommends the Auberge du Zoo, a restaurant with a pleasant setting and tasteful decor. Its generous dishes are perfect for extending a day out in nature.

2pm

On the way down to the city centre, he enjoys strolling through the streets of Mulhouse. This town on a human scale is welcoming and practical, with everything within easy reach. A contrast he particularly appreciates as a former Parisian. When he’s with his daughter, the Parc Steinbach is a must. Recently renovated, this park has a superb wooden playground, ideal for children.

4pm

For a gourmet break, Laziz often opts for Café Mozart, located on Place de la Réunion. With its uninterrupted view of the magnificent Saint-Étienne temple, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a coffee and a pastry. The terrace, in the heart of the square, is particularly pleasant on summer days.

7pm

On his way back to the Sundgau, Laziz regularly stops off at one of his favourite places: the Sun Pub guinguette at the entrance to Illfurth. A little snack, like their poulet frites (chicken with chips), accompanied by a peaceful view of the Rhone-Rhine Canal, is a perfect way to round off the day in style.