Cité de l'Automobile Museum
Automobile museum with extensive vintage car collection
In Mulhouse, the Cité de l'Automobile displays the Schlumpf collection of classic cars, with many European marques and period motoring artefacts. Visitors come for historic automobiles, themed exhibits and restoration workshops.
Cité de l'Automobile at a Glance#
Address: Cité de l’Automobile - Musée National - Schlumpf Collection, 2-4 Rue de la Fonderie, 68100 Mulhouse, France
Website: https://www.citedelautomobile.com/
Hours: Tue-Sun 10:00am-6:00pm, closed Mondays (check seasonal variations)
Admission: Adults €14 (approx.), reduced rates for youths and seniors; children under 6 free
About Cité de l'Automobile#
Cité de l’Automobile in Mulhouse, also known as the Musée National de l’Automobile, is one of the largest car museums in the world. It preserves and displays hundreds of historic motor vehicles, with strong holdings in early cars and classic marques.
The museum’s displays emphasize automotive design, engineering, and social history, and include a large group of Bugatti models assembled as part of the Schlumpf collection. Exhibition halls are arranged to present vehicles chronologically and by theme.
Much of the collection originated with the Schlumpf brothers and was later made public to form the core of the museum’s holdings. The site is organised for both general visitors and specialists interested in automotive history.
The museum is located in Mulhouse in the Alsace region of northeastern France, near the borders with Germany and Switzerland.
- Collection size: Houses one of the world’s most comprehensive automobile collections with over 400 vehicles spanning the earliest cars to mid-20th century classics.
What to See#
- Schlumpf collection: Core historic automobile ensemble assembled by the Schlumpf brothers, featuring numerous prewar and classic cars spanning early motor history.
- Bugatti collection: A large Bugatti ensemble within the wider collection that displays multiple models and chassis from the marque’s early and interwar periods.
How to Get to Cité de l'Automobile#
Mulhouse sits in the Grand Est region near the German and Swiss borders. From Mulhouse-Ville train station, take tram line 2 toward ‘Université’ and alight at ‘Arènes’ or take a short taxi (10-15 minutes) to the museum. By car, follow the A36 and exit at Mulhouse-Centre; the museum is signposted from the city and has visitor parking.
Tips for Visiting Cité de l'Automobile#
- Arrive at opening to see the Bugatti Royale under quiet light-morning sunlight through museum skylights is best.
- Buy combined tickets if planning to visit the nearby Cité du Train (rail museum) - they're often discounted.
- The museum is mostly on one level but has ramps; bring a jacket-the large halls can feel chilly in winter.
- Allow at least 2-3 hours; car aficionados can easily spend half a day reading the labels and admiring engine bays.
Best Time to Visit Cité de l'Automobile#
Best visited outside peak summer for light and space; spring and autumn balance weather and crowd levels.
Weather & Climate near Cité de l'Automobile#
Cité de l'Automobile's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -1°C to 26°C. Moderate rainfall (692 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -1° - 5° | -1° | 47 mm | overcast | 91% | 2.9 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.8h |
| February | Poor | -1° - 7° | 3° | 48 mm | overcast | 86% | 2.9 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.1h |
| March | Good | 2° - 11° | 5° | 41 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 3.0 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Good | 5° - 15° | 8° | 51 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 2.7 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.5h |
| May | Good | 9° - 20° | 14° | 73 mm | overcast | 75% | 2.5 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.9h |
| June | Very Good | 12° - 24° | 18° | 72 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 2.4 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.7h |
| July | Very Good | 14° - 26° | 20° | 67 mm | partly cloudy | 70% | 2.3 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.3h |
| August | Very Good | 14° - 26° | 20° | 62 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 2.1 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.1h |
| September | Very Good | 10° - 21° | 16° | 58 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 2.2 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Good | 6° - 15° | 11° | 57 mm | partly cloudy | 84% | 2.3 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.7h |
| November | Poor | 2° - 9° | 3° | 57 mm | overcast | 90% | 2.6 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.2h |
| December | Poor | 0° - 6° | 3° | 59 mm | overcast | 92% | 2.9 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.3h |
