The Écomusée d’Alsace : the biggest open-air Museum in France

Above: The Dovecote - A half-timbered structure from Oberhergheim (Haut-Rhin), this dovecote belonged to the Bishopric of Strasbourg. Built in the 18th century, it was dismantled in 1980 and reassembled at the Écomusée in 1981. On either side of the dovecote, two large doors open onto grain threshing areas.

People Behind It All

As early as 1971, faced to the deterioration of Alsace’s architectural heritage, a group of passionate young people launched a preservation project. In 1980, the first house was saved from demolition and reconstructed on a vacant lot in the village of Ungersheim, in the Haut-Rhin — marking the beginning of a remarkable adventure. The museum welcomed its first visitors in the summer of 1984. Today, the Écomusée d’Alsace is the largest open-air museum in France!

The Strong Tower : Dating from the 12th–13th centuries, this fortified house was once part of the city walls of Mulhouse (Haut-Rhin). Rediscovered in the 1980s, it was dismantled in 1983 and reconstructed between 1985 and 1988 at the Écomusée d'Alsace.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Françoise Forquin
Half-timbered House : Originally from Joncherey (Territoire de Belfort), this house was built in 1811, dismantled in 1981, and rebuilt the same year at the Écomusée.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Françoise Forquin
The House of Tastings and colours : Originally from Muespach (Haut-Rhin), this house was built in 1768. It was dismantled in 1980 and rebuilt at the Écomusée between 1983 and 1984.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Françoise Forquin

A traditional Alsatian village nestled in nature between Mulhouse and Colmar

The Écomusée d’Alsace is designed to resemble a genuine early 20th-century Alsatian village, nestled in the heart of nature. Visitors can discover Alsace’s rural heritage through more than 80 traditional buildings — houses, farms, a school, a chapel, a train station, a sawmill, and more. These structures showcase the main types of Alsatian architecture, selected for how well they represent a specific region, era, or social group. All have been restored and furnished thanks to donations from the people of Alsace.

Under the Dovecote : Table set for the harvest festival meal.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Françoise Forquin
Under the Dovecote : Tobacco leaves drying.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Françoise Forquin
Under the Dovecote : Tobacco leaves drying.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Françoise Forquin
The Barn : Originally from Westhouse (Bas-Rhin), this barn was built in 1801. In 1910, a new owner dismantled and relocated it. It was dismantled again in 1985 and reassembled at the Écomusée that same year.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Françoise Forquin

The immersive experience continues with a collection of nearly 100,000 everyday objects — clothing, tools, household items — offering a true journey into the past. The museum is also a haven for biodiversity, featuring four nature trails through fields, forests, and along the river.

House from Hésingue : Dated 1574, this house belonged to a prosperous farmer from the Sundgau region (southern Haut-Rhin). It was dismantled in 1982 and rebuilt at the Écomusée between 1983 and 1984.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Françoise Forquin
The bedroom : Features typical Alsatian polychrome furniture. The bed is covered with kelsch, a traditional Alsatian fabric featuring blue or red checks or stripes on an off-white background.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Françoise Forquin
The dining room : In some well-to-do homes, particularly in vineyard areas, the ceilings, divided into panels, are painted.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Françoise Forquin
The dining room : The interior of the Alsatian house is characterized by the predominant use of wood for floors, ceilings, partitions, and other elements.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Françoise Forquin

Thanks to the many activities and the dedication of volunteers, the village comes alive with the rhythm of the seasons and Alsatian traditions: pig feeding, cow milking, old-time school sessions, and seasonal cooking recipes. The Écomusée also offers boat rides, cart rides, and tractor tours.

The kitchen : Women at the stove wearing traditional clothing.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Françoise Forquin
Goat Stable : Originally from Grussenheim (Haut-Rhin), this stable was built between 1800 and 1860. It was dismantled and reassembled at the Écomusée in 1985.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Françoise Forquin

Visitor Information

Address : Chemin du Grosswald, 68190 Ungersheim (France)

Contact

Plan your visit : Prices, Opening times, Group offers

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Françoise Forquin

Françoise Forquin studied literature in Paris, where she earned a degree in Humanities from the Sorbonne. As a strategic intelligence analyst for a major corporation, she also completed a training program in competitive intelligence at the University of Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée.
Now retired, she has settled in the Lyonnais region. A lifelong heritage enthusiast, she uses her skills in new information technologies to support local associations.
In 2019, she published her grandfather’s memoirs under the title « Doctor at the Heart of the Great War », followed by a guide to the heritage of her village. She is also the author of « Monts du Lyonnais : Mysteries and Secrets », and is currently working on a new book entitled « Magic and Secrets of Trees ».
She continues to expand her knowledge and share it by participating in heritage science research, in collaboration with experts from diverse disciplines, cultures, and countries.