Musée du pain d'épices et de l'art populaire alsacien

About the museum

The museum belongs to the Maison Lips, a family business making artisan pain d’épices (gingerbread) that has been based in Gertwiller since 1806. It stands a few steps from the shop, in an 18th-century tithe barn, and covers 350 m².

Its collections come from Michel Habsiger, who spent more than 50 years gathering objects of Alsatian folk art. There are over 10,000 pieces that tell of the sweets of the past and of rural life in Alsace: baptism wishes, old utensils and moulds for pain d’épices, a reconstructed kitchen, polychrome furniture, pottery from Betschdorf and Soufflenheim, dowry chests, tools of rural trades and paintings by Alsatian artists.

The museum also presents more than 400 glazed earthenware kouglof moulds and over 300 cake moulds, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as an authentic 18th-century Stube and more than 300 pieces of faience from the Hannong manufactories of Strasbourg and Haguenau, made between 1721 and 1781. At the entrance, a workshop shows how pain d’épices is made, from preparation to baking and decoration, and the visit includes a tasting.

Highlights

• Pain d’épices workshop and tasting at the entrance
• More than 400 glazed earthenware kouglof moulds
• Strasbourg and Haguenau faience from the Hannong family
• Authentic 18th-century Alsatian Stube
• Baptism wishes, dowry chests and pottery from Betschdorf and Soufflenheim
• More than 10,000 objects on 350 m²

Operated by

Maison Lips

Admission & discounts

Tickets are bought at the till in the shop; no reservation is needed for individual visitors. Prices are published as an image on the website.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• 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

The museum is on the first floor and is only accessible by stairs.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at 110 rue Principale, Gertwiller; the shop is opposite the town hall.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

A shop at the museum exit sells items collected by Michel Habsiger; the Maison Lips shop also sells pain d’épices. A product tasting is included in the visit.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit