Ecomusée in Alsace : Discover the Largest Open-air Museum in France

If you visit around in Alsace and spend some time in the Haut-Rhin, don’t hesitate to make a stop in Ungersheim where the Ecomusée d’Alsace is, a must-see site known as the biggest open-air museum in France which will bringing you back to Alsace’s yesteryear surrounded by typical half-timbered houses.

A tribute to the Alsatian rural and architectural heritage

If the project to create the Ecomusée started in 1980, it is actually in 1971 that the will to undertake such a work of heritage preservation started with the initiative of an association called the Maisons Paysannes d’Alsace, mainly consisted of students in history and archeology. The main objective was then to select dilapidated buildings typical from the region and renovate them in order to give them a second wind.

The first heavy work done was the one done in Sundgau which is located in the south part of Alsace, but once noticing that much more space was needed to create such open-air museum, the city of Ungersheim gave the green light to welcome this project which was undertaken from 1980 until 1984, ready then to receive the first visitors.

Immersion into Alsace yesteryear’s lifestyle

With more than 70 buildings spread on more than 100 hectares, it is a small world, a condensed version of Alsace in the beginning of the 20th century that children and adults walk into and discover beautiful typical houses, farms and craftsman workshops. This museum showcases popular arts and traditions as well thanks to the on-site team which organises events and entertainments (http://www.ecomusee.alsace/en/things-to-do), along sometimes with farm animals.

During the summer season, it is possible to admire storks that you will find nesting on the rooftops of the houses or flying around!

Useful information

Tickets

Entrance: Standard price 15 €, reduced price 10 € for children between 4 and 14 years old. Free for children below 4 years old. Further details here: http://www.ecomusee.alsace/en/useful-info/admission-prices

How to get there

The Ecomusée is located in the city of Ungersheim.

If you are driving from Strasbourg/Colmar: take the motorway A35 in direction of Mulhouse, take the exit “Ensisheim”, and follow Ecomusée d’Alsace.

If you are driving from Mulhouse: take the motorway A36, take the exit #18 (or #18 bis from Belfort), then direction to Guebwiller. Take the departmental road D430, exit #5 to Bollwiller / Ecomusée, then follow Ecomusée d’Alsace.

Opening times

You can find here the updated information http://www.ecomusee.alsace/en/useful-info/opening-times