Heading to Mulhouse for the weekend? Get ready to explore all the best bits of this cosmopolitan, historical and industrial city. Strolling through the old town and admiring some of its wonderful architecture is a must: the Temple Saint-Étienne, the tallest Protestant building in France, the Mieg residence, a roomy bourgeois house with a turret that looms over the Place de la Réunion, and the former city hall, now the Mulhouse history museum. After resting up at the Première Classe hotel, head out again to discover the city’s industrial heritage at the Musée de l'Impression sur Etoffes, where you’ll learn about the local area’s main occupation during the 19th century: textile printing.
If you’re staying in Mulhouse for a week and you love museums, you’ll have plenty to keep you entertained. The city is said to be the “European capital of technology museums”. Explore the Cité de l’Automobile and its unique collection of vintage cars, the Cité du Train and some of the very first steam locomotives, and the Alsace ecomuseum with its recreated Alsatian village. The Première Classe hotel in Mulhouse also makes a great base for excursions to the Thur Valley. There you’ll be able to see some of the highest peaks of the Vosges mountains, charming villages and an incredible array of wildlife.
Mulhouse has one of the youngest populations of any city in France, making it perfect for a family stay. The child-friendly exhibitions at the technology museums are a great place to visit with the kids — like the EDF Electropolis museum, where there are all sorts of fun activities on offer. In the city center, take a street art tour to discover all the wall murals telling the story of residents’ daily life and heritage. And you can enjoy a fun day out just 20 minutes from the Première Classe hotel at the only aerial park in Europe: the Parc du Petit Prince, where tethered balloon rides are the star of the show.