Ungersheim travel guide

Visit Ungersheim (Grand-Est, France)

Ungersheim is a small town to the north of Mulhouse in the Haut-Rhin department of the Alsace region. The town is known for the Alsace Ecomuseum.

Alsace Ecomuseum

The ecomuseum at Ungersheim is a very substantial development, in which an impressive number of houses have been carefully restored to recreate a village as it was before industrialisation. A great deal of attention has been paid to historical accuracy and details that make it a very interesting site to visit and explore.

The achievement is particularly effective because the houses, school, town hall and other buildings - 72 in total - were all in a state of ruin elsewhere and have been carefully taken down, brought to Ungersheim, and reconstructed and restored.

The largest ecomuseum in France, there are also accurate recreations of workshops, blacksmiths, farmlife, shops and life in the middle ages. Re-enactments of life in Ungersheim and demonstrations of the work carried out in the village such as the blacksmith in his forge add extra colour and interest to a visit.

Many of the staff involved in the creation and maintenance of the Alsace Ecomuseum are volunteers so full marks to them for a remarkable effort!

The village is further enhanced by the flowers and gardens around the houses in the Ecomuseum as well as the many animals and birds here, again typical of a small traditional village, such as ducks, chickens, peacocks, pigs and cows. If you are lucky you will also see one or two of the famous storks of Alsace on the rooftops in the village!

Visitor information

Note that the Alsace Ecomuseum is closed from November to March each year. Entrance costs around 14 euros per adult and 10 euros per child up to 14 years old with further reduction for families, pensioners, students and disabled visitors. Allow plenty of time to visit and enjoy the activities: there is also a restaurant here and plenty of space to have a picnic.

See more details at their website here

Ungersheim Bioscope

Until quite recently Ungersheim was also known for the Bioscope but this has now unfortunately closed.

Attractions nearby

Visitors can explore the Regional Natural Parc des Ballons des Vosges to the west of here, visit the famous Alsace vineyards nearby, and explore several lovely villages such as Eguisheim. See the details for the Alsace wine route for more suggestions.

You can find more travel ideas in the Haut-Rhin guide and the Alsace guide.