Chartreuse Museum - Bugatti Foundation

The Chartreuse Museum, located in the medieval town of Molsheim on the Alsace wine route about twenty kilometers from Strasbourg, is a must-visit to discover the rich and eventful history of this city. An archaeology, art, and history museum, it stands at the gateway to the Bruche Valley, a former possession of the bishops of Strasbourg since the Early Middle Ages. Molsheim reached its peak after the Reformation with the arrival of the Jesuits (1580-1765) and the Carthusians (1598-1792), before becoming a major industrial and artisanal center in the 19th and 20th centuries. The museum presents this human adventure, from the earliest traces of occupation in the Paleolithic to memories of World War II. Several areas are dedicated to the medieval history of the town and the religious orders present before 1789, while one room honors the sculptor Philippe Grass (1801-1876). Part of the collections also reflects the 19th century and the surrounding region. The museum also houses the Bugatti Foundation, which pays tribute to Ettore Bugatti (1881-1947) through cars, unusual objects, and documents. Don't miss the convent buildings, including three reconstructed Carthusian cells and a cloister currently being restored by volunteers.