Musée de la Chartreuse, Municipal museum in Molsheim, France
Musée de la Chartreuse occupies a former Carthusian monastery on spacious grounds featuring a grand cloister and restored monastic rooms. Its collections include archaeological artifacts from the local valley, religious artworks, regional folk crafts, and a dedicated section exploring the Bugatti automobile legacy.
The monastery began in 1598 as a Carthusian settlement and operated until its closure during the French Revolution in 1792. Decades later, Henri Gerlinger opened this museum in 1946, transforming the complex into a cultural institution.
The collections here document how people lived in this Alsatian valley through religious artworks and everyday objects from the region. Visitors encounter traditional crafts and sacred pieces that shaped the area's cultural identity over time.
The grounds are quite large, so plan to spend time exploring and wear comfortable shoes for walking. Visiting hours change with the seasons, with longer opening times during summer months.
The Italian industrialist Ettore Bugatti established his legendary automobile factory in this town in 1909, and the museum displays his personal belongings and design sketches. This link between local history and automotive innovation makes the place especially compelling for those interested in engineering and design.
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