Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Strasbourg

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain) in Strasbourg was established in 1973 and officially opened its doors in November 1998 within its dedicated building.

The construction of the museum building took place between 1995 and 1998, situated on the left bank of the Ill River. The design of the building was crafted by Adrien Fainsilber, an architect based in Paris. The interior layout is quite striking, featuring a central glass-covered walkway that spans both sides. This walkway has an impressive, cathedral-like scale, stretching for 104 meters in length and reaching a height of 22 meters. The museum's rooftop is adorned with an eye-catching horse sculpture titled "Hortus conclusus," created by the Italian artist Mimmo Paladino.

Renowned as one of the larger institutions of its kind in France, the museum boasts an extensive collection encompassing paintings, sculptures, graphic arts, multimedia, and design pieces created from 1870 (during the Impressionist era) up to the present day. Additionally, the museum houses a diverse array of items within its photographic library. In total, the collection comprises 18,400 works. The museum frequently organizes various exhibitions throughout the year, showcasing the creations of specific artists or offering retrospectives on different artistic genres.

Notably, the museum is home to some notable pieces, including the first cubist painting ever acquired by a French public collection, "Still Life" (1911) by Georges Braque, obtained in 1923. Another prized possession is "Joan of Arc Kissing the Sword of Deliverance" (1863) by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, marking the first painting by Rossetti to be acquired by a French public collection. This piece was added to the museum's collection in 1996.

Tip:
Stop by the very nice café with outdoor seating and great views over la Petite France, as well as the excellent bookshop that covers art of every kind.