Aubette 1928

About the museum

The Aubette building was constructed from 1765 by the architect Jacques-François Blondel on Place Kléber. It was first used as a military building and owes its name to the changing of the guard, which took place at dawn. From 1845 a café opened there; in 1869 the municipal painting museum, founded in 1803, moved in. A fire destroyed the building in 1870, and it was restored between 1873 and 1875.

In 1922, Paul and André Horn, both from Mulhouse, rented the right wing to create a leisure complex. They commissioned Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Hans Arp and, from 1926, Theo van Doesburg. The three artists designed the decorations from floor to ceiling, as well as the furniture and typography, with the ambition of creating a total work of art. The inauguration took place on February 16, 1928, but the public remained reserved. In 1938, all the decorations were covered over.

From the 1960s onward, the idea of restoring them emerged. The ciné-bal and the staircase were listed as historic monuments in 1985, and the function hall and the foyer-bar in 1989. Work on the ciné-bal was completed in 1994; work on the upper floor, begun in 2004, was completed with the reopening on June 8, 2006. Today the site once again hosts artistic and cultural events.

Highlights

• Ciné-bal designed by Theo van Doesburg
• Function hall with geometric decorations
• Foyer-bar by Sophie Taeuber-Arp
• Staircase with a stained-glass window by Hans Arp
• Audio guide in four languages

Permanent exhibition

• Décors de 1928 restitués – The ciné-bal, function hall, foyer-bar and staircase have regained their 1928 geometric decorations, designed by Theo van Doesburg, Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Hans Arp.

Founded

1928

Operated by

Musées de la Ville de Strasbourg

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to Aubette 1928 is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

The site is accessible to people with reduced mobility, with an elevator. Visit-aid bags are available: for people with intellectual and psychological disabilities (noise-cancelling headphones, stress toys, cards with urgent questions, an easy-read document in French, an essential oil); for hearing impairments (audio guide transcription in large print and a magnetic neck loop, lent against an ID); and for visual impairments (a large-print guide and a tactile model on request).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

“L’Aubette en famille” workshop according to the schedule. An observation game and a family game are available at the reception on request.

Getting there & parking

The Aubette is on Place Kléber, in the heart of Strasbourg.

Amenities & dining

According to the FAQ of the Musées de Strasbourg, eating inside the building is not possible. The museum pages do not mention Wi-Fi.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit