Musée Alsacien (Alsatian Museum), Strasbourg (must see)

The Alsatian Museum offers a close and grounded introduction to everyday life in Alsace from the 18th to the early 20th century. It was founded in 1907, at a time when rapid industrialization and political change threatened to erase regional traditions. The aim was not to create a grand national museum, but to preserve the material culture of rural and small-town Alsace—its homes, crafts, customs, and beliefs—before they disappeared.

The museum is housed in a group of historic houses along the River Ill. Once you step inside, you'll be met by an interior courtyard framed by traditional Strasbourg half-timbered houses. The houses are arranged in a rectangular, interconnected layout, which helps maintain the intimate atmosphere of the space. The three floors of the houses can be accessed by climbing a black wooden staircase located on the far south eastern side of the courtyard. A special detail is provided by the vines on the balconies to the right of the staircase, which add variation to the color palette of the exterior complex. As you enter the interior courtyard, you'll find a metal statue of a man on the south-western balcony. The statue is placed on the wooden railing of the balcony and the man depicted rings a bell by using a hammer.

The museum’s main appeal lies in its immersive, room-by-room presentation. In other words, its layout differs from traditional museums, as it is not divided on a floor-by-floor basis. Instead, you will have to move up and down stairs and walk through chronologically arranged adjoining rooms.

Interiors are arranged to resemble traditional Alsatian homes, with furnished kitchens, bedrooms, workshops, and ceremonial rooms reconstructed using original objects. Painted furniture, pottery, textiles, carved wooden cupboards, and everyday tools reveal how people lived, worked, cooked, and celebrated across different social settings. Traditional costumes and accessories illustrate regional identity and social distinction, while displays dedicated to religious practices, seasonal festivals, and folk beliefs provide insight into the rhythms that shaped daily life.

What sets the Alsatian Museum apart is its focus on lived experience rather than monumental history. Courtyards, staircases, and uneven floor levels reinforce the sense of moving through historic dwellings rather than a conventional gallery.

Editor's note: the museum is currently closed due to renovation works and is expected to reopen in 2027.