Unterlinden Museum, Art and history museum in Colmar, France
The Unterlinden Museum is an art museum housed in a former 13th-century Dominican convent, displaying works from prehistoric times to the present across multiple exhibition areas. The collection spans Roman mosaics, medieval paintings, and contemporary pieces within this historic building.
The museum was established in 1847 starting with a Roman mosaic collection before acquiring a major medieval altarpiece in 1852. This altarpiece became the foundation of one of France's most significant art collections.
The museum displays works by artists whose names are tied to the region's artistic identity. Visitors can see how the local art tradition shaped creative expression over the centuries.
The museum is easily walkable from the city center with clear signage throughout, making it straightforward for visitors to explore all areas. The combination of historic convent spaces and modern exhibition galleries offers a varied experience across multiple levels.
Underground exhibition corridors beneath the building connect the historic convent to a former 19th-century bathhouse, now integrated into the museum space. This hidden link creates an unexpected passage between two completely different architectural eras.
Location: Colmar
Inception: 1847
Founders: Louis Hugot
Official opening: April 3, 1853
Address: 1, rue d'Unterlinden
Opening Hours: Sunday-Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:00-18:00; Thursday 10:00-20:00
Phone: +33389201550
Website: https://musee-unterlinden.com
GPS coordinates: 48.07986,7.35556
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02
Colmar displays traditional Alsatian architecture with timber-framed houses and medieval buildings. The old town includes historic districts with water canals, Gothic churches, and Renaissance structures. The city museums present art from medieval to modern times, regional history, and natural sciences. Notable buildings include Saint-Martin Collegiate Church, Unterlinden Museum, and Pfister House.
Alsace stretches between Strasbourg and Mulhouse, presenting historical monuments from various periods. The region contains medieval castles such as Haut-Koenigsbourg, military fortifications by Vauban, and Romanesque and Gothic churches. Old town centres display characteristic half-timbered houses, while museums like the Railway Museum in Mulhouse or the Automobile Museum showcase technical collections. Strasbourg features its historic quarter La Petite France with canals and half-timbered buildings, along with the cathedral and its astronomical clock. Colmar offers the Unterlinden Museum housing the Isenheim Altarpiece and preserved old town districts. The Alsace Wine Route connects villages such as Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim, which have maintained their medieval structures. The Vosges mountains form the natural backdrop of the region with hiking trails and viewpoints. Fortifications like Fort de Mutzig reflect the military past. Religious buildings such as Murbach Abbey or the Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul in Rosheim document Romanesque architecture. The region combines German and French heritage in its architecture, cuisine and culture.
Isenheim Altarpiece
30 m
Maison des Têtes
141 m
Madonna of the Rose Bower
189 m
Église des Dominicains
190 m
Dominican Convent
160 m
Hôtel de ville de Colmar
236 m
Statue of Jean Rapp
334 m
Maison de la boîte à mouches
243 m
Unterlinden monastery
16 m
Municipal Theatre of Colmar
61 m
Statue du tonnelier alsacien
141 m
Couvent des Catherinettes
159 m
Musée Hansi de Colmar
142 m
Anciens bains municipaux
55 m
Statue of Martin Schongauer by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi
43 m
Grenier à grains médiéval
329 m
Maison Wildungshof
331 m
Hôtel de Reiset
212 m
Couvent des Capucins de Colmar
271 m
Maison, 4 rue des Boulangers
208 m
Maison au 4, rue Saint-Martin à Colmar
282 m
Square Hansi
286 m
Well on place des Dominicains
217 m
Kopfhaus
145 m
Church of ancien couvent d'Unterlinden
4 m
Cinéma Colisee
130 m
Église du couvent des dominicaines de Sainte-Catherine dite les Catherinettes de Colmar
183 m
Cloître du couvent des Dominicains
162 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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