Cité du train
Museum Large railway museum displaying historic locomotives and carriages
Cité du Train in Mulhouse is France’s national railway museum, with historic locomotives, carriages and interactive exhibits on rail technology; rail enthusiasts visit for restored engines and hands‑on displays.
Cité du train is the national railway museum of France located in Mulhouse, Grand Est, dedicated to the history and technology of rail transport. The museum presents large exhibition halls containing historic locomotives, carriages, and technical displays that chart the development of railways in France.
Exhibits include representative steam and electric locomotives, passenger rolling stock, and interpretive displays on operations and engineering. The museum is organized to allow visitors to view vehicles at close range and to learn about the technological and social history of rail travel.
The museum sits in Mulhouse in eastern France, close to the city’s industrial heritage sites and is accessible from regional transport links.
- Significance: Located in Mulhouse in the Grand Est region, the museum is one of the principal railway museums in France with an extensive collection of historic vehicles.
What to See #
- Locomotive halls: Large halls displaying historic steam and electric locomotives and rolling stock from France's railway history, arranged to show technological development.
- Interpretive exhibits: Interactive and interpretive exhibits that explain rail operations, signaling, and the social history of rail travel in France.
Tips for Visiting Cité du train #
- The Cité du Train is France's national railway museum in Mulhouse - visit on a weekday morning, outside school holidays, to avoid the heaviest family crowds and have more space around the large locomotives.
- Combine a visit to the Cité du Train with the other transport museums in Mulhouse (the city's museum quarter) to make the most of travel between sites in one day.
- Allow plenty of time: the displays are large and mostly indoors, so plan for several hours and check the museum's website for special exhibitions or restoration displays that are often rotating.
Best Time to Visit Cité du train #
Best to visit on weekday mornings in shoulder seasons to avoid weekend and summer crowds at this indoor railway museum.
Weather & Climate near Cité du train #
Cité du train'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 (696 mm/year).
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 5°C and lows of -1°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -1°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 9°C. The wettest month with 73 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (72 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 26°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (62 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
