Historical Museum

History

One museum, one story

Mulhouse is proud of its singular History. It was a free town of the Empire (1308) and joined the Decapolis of Alsace in 1354 and then the Swiss Confederation in 1515. After its conversion to Calvinism, the town became a small independent Republic, which finally decided to join France in 1798.
In the 19th century, its exceptional industrial development earned it the nickname the “Manchester of France”, whilst the local business people invented the Mulhouse model of social economy.
The town hall is the finest piece in the heritage of Mulhouse and was built in 1552. It is the symbol of the former Republic of Mulhouse. The decor of this fine edifice, which bear testament to the Rhenish Renaissance, were painted in 1698 by Jean Gabriel, an artist of the town. They represent allegorical figures symbolising good government and justice, as well as the coats of arms of the Swiss cantons, allies of Mulhouse in those days. These frescoes have been restored and modified several times.