A former Carthusian monastery, the Bruderthal vineyard and the Bruche offer different ways to discover Molsheim: its cultural history, wine-making tradition and waterside landscape. The town lies on the northern stretch of the Alsace Wine Route. These features provide distinct ways to plan your trip, from historic buildings and collections to an annual market day and local nature spots.

Cultural History in Buildings and Collections

The Musée de la Chartreuse is housed in a former Carthusian monastery, classified as a Monument historique since 1998. The Musée d’Histoire et d’Archéologie de la Chartreuse features archaeological collections from prehistoric and protohistoric excavations in Achenheim and Dachstein, as well as from the Gallo-Roman archaeological site at Heiligenberg.

The religious buildings also reflect different periods in history. The former Jesuit church, also known as the Catholic church of Saint-Georges, was classified as a Monument historique by decree dated April 25, 1939. The neo-Gothic Chapelle Notre-Dame dates from 1864 to 1867 and is dedicated to the Sacred Heart.

The Metzig highlights its former uses: the ground floor was once used for slaughtering and selling meat, while the upper floor housed a large hall for banquets and meetings of the butchers’ guild. The Fondation Bugatti offers a different focus. It displays cars, unusual objects and numerous documents commemorating the designer Ettore Bugatti. Together, these themes offer different perspectives on Molsheim’s architectural and cultural history.

To explore the old town, the “Le Mystère de la Chartreuse” Explor Game guides you through its centuries-old streets with a tablet. Check availability in advance.

Street Market and Wine Tradition

The Braderie du 1er mai has been held every year on May 1 since 1962. The market has around 200 stalls; the number may vary. If you want to plan your travel dates around a specific recurring event, May 1 is the date to mark on your calendar.

The Grand Cru Bruderthal is a historic vineyard in Molsheim. It has been mentioned among the vineyards owned by the Bishopric of Strasbourg since 1316. This adds a specific historic wine-growing tradition to the town’s connection with the Alsace Wine Route.

The Bruche and Étangs du Zich

Waterside landscapes also form part of Molsheim’s character. In the Molsheim section of the Bruche, an active protected area lies between the locality of La Pierre Carrée downstream and the boundary marked by the Molsheim sign on Route des Loisirs upstream.

The Étangs du Zich comprise four ponds: the Étang bassin, the Étang de concours, the Étang des Iris and the Étang des Joncs. They are supplied with water by the Bruche. The ponds are home to freshwater fish such as roach, crucian carp, pike and carp. The Bruche therefore features in two distinct contexts: as a water source for the ponds and as a stretch of river with an active protected area. These natural features add another dimension to the town’s description, alongside its cultural and wine-making traditions.

Discover more destinations: La Wantzenau, Niedersteinbach, Schœnau, Fegersheim, Gries, Wimmenau, Hœrdt, Lembach.

For the regional travel overview: Bas-Rhin.