Mulhouse in Alsace in the northeast of France is a master of reinvention. It was once a flourishing textile and manufacturing town but globalisation of industry has brought change - and for Mulhouse that means change too. The city is undergoing a metamorphosis - but with a nod to its powerful past. It boasts world’s biggest car museum, an incredible train museum, electricity museum and more.
Former factories are being converted into restaurants and artists residences. Streets are being adorned with street art. Pop up shops with original clothes and accessories you won’t find anywhere else are making their mark.
This city has a buzz about it, It’s thriving once more thanks to major support for its artistic community – with the largest artists’ residence in France - and it’s love for culture and heritage…
Cité de l’Automobile
There are over 400 cars at the immense car museum in Mulhouse. Car enthusiasts come from around the world to see some of the rare cars on display. When I went a Russian visitor told me he’d come from Moscow to see the cars and had spent three days there!
There are incredibly well preserved masterpieces from cars of the 1870s to the 1970s mostly, though there are also some awesome racing cars that are more modern. Priceless Bugatti’s take centre stage, gleaming and sleek, they’re as rare as hens teeth.
Hire a classic car (I chose a Ferrari!) to drive round the private track at the museum, take the kids to enjoy a go kart track, games and workshops. There’s so much here, you can spend an entire day at this one - and probably a lot more!