Musée de la Porte de Thann

About the museum

The Musée de la Porte de Thann presents the history of Cernay and its region in part of the former town gate, listed as a historic monument since 1920. A first museum was founded in 1864 but closed in 1877, and its collections were scattered. It reopened in 1939 in the Porte de Thann. Since 1963, the Société d’histoire et d’archéologie de Cernay et environs, a volunteer association, has run it.

The museum was extended in 1987 with the purchase of the neighbouring house, known as the Maison Hans. The upper floor opened in 1995, and major renovation work took place between 2004 and 2007. The museum holds the “Musée de France” label.

The route comprises four rooms. In the gate, the Ingold room covers human presence from the Neolithic to the protohistoric period, and the Oberreiner room covers the Roman era, including the hypothesis of the Battle of Ochsenfeld in 58 BC between Caesar and Ariovistus. The neighbouring house presents the origins of the town from the 13th century, with a large 1:72 model including 120 figures, a film of about seven minutes, objects from excavations, and restored stove tiles from the 14th to 17th centuries. One room hosts a temporary exhibition each season, and a garden occupies the former western moat.

Highlights

• Medieval town gate listed as a historic monument
• Rooms on the Neolithic, protohistory and the Roman era
• 1:72 scale model of the medieval town with 120 figures
• Film of about seven minutes on the history of Cernay
• Stove tiles from the 14th to 17th centuries
• Garden in the former moat

Permanent exhibition

• Collections permanentes – Four rooms on the history of Cernay, from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages, with a model, a film and excavation finds.

Founded

1864

Operated by

Ville de Cernay ; gestion par la Société d'histoire et d'archéologie de Cernay et environs

Visitors per year

approx. 1,725

Admission & discounts

Free for members of the Société d’histoire de Cernay et environs. Payment in cash or by cheque.

Accessibility

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

A lift and wheelchair access serve the two main exhibition rooms, and the ground floor of the main building is accessible. The tower of the medieval gate is not accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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