Musée Unterlinden

About the museum

The museum occupies the Unterlinden convent of Dominican nuns, founded in the 13th century. After the Revolution, the convent became a storage place for seized works, including the Isenheim Altarpiece by Grünewald and the Dominicans’ altarpiece by Martin Schongauer. The museum officially opened on April 3, 1853; since then it has been run by the Société Schongauer.

Initially, the display was limited to the chapel. It also showed a 3rd-century mosaic discovered at Bergheim in 1848, and casts of antiquities. The galleries later spread throughout the convent, especially from the second half of the 20th century, and an underground extension of 450 m² was built in 1973–1974 for modern art.

In 2003, the former municipal baths were allocated to the museum, paving the way for an extension. An international competition was launched in 2009 and won by the Basel firm Herzog & de Meuron. The new building, with cracked-brick facades and a copper roof, is linked to the convent by an underground gallery. The baths have been restored to their early 20th-century state and serve as an event space.

The museum reopened on December 12, 2015: the former convent is devoted to early art, the contemporary building to modern art and temporary exhibitions, and the underground gallery to 19th- and early 20th-century art.

Highlights

• Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald in the convent chapel
• Dominicans’ altarpiece by Martin Schongauer
• Medieval cloister of the Unterlinden convent
• Herzog & de Meuron extension with underground gallery
• Archaeology and modern art collections
• Carved copy of the altarpiece for blind and partially sighted visitors

Permanent exhibitions

• Collections permanentes : le retable d'Issenheim et l'art ancien – The former convent presents early art, including Grünewald’s Isenheim Altarpiece and Schongauer’s Dominicans’ altarpiece, as well as archaeology collections.
• Art moderne et art du XIXe siècle – The contemporary building and the underground gallery house modern art and 19th- and early 20th-century art.

Founded

1853

Operated by

Société Schongauer

Director

Raphaël Mariani (par intérim)

Visitors per year

approx. 81,681

Admission & discounts

Tickets bought online are valid for one year. Free admission also applies to members of the Société Schongauer, subscribers, holders of the Museum-Pass-Musées, the Université d’Alsace culture campus card or the ICOM card, and school groups from the Strasbourg and Baden-Württemberg education authorities. The youth rate and the reduced rate are also available with an audio guide (€12 and €15); the full rate with an audio guide is €17. A partner rate gives €2 off.

Accessibility

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

The museum holds the Tourisme et Handicap label. Lifts serve every change of level. Two wheelchairs are lent at reception against ID. The square in front of the museum is paved, which makes wheelchair use difficult. A drop-off point for people with disabilities is possible at 3 rue Kléber, 150 m away. A carved copy of the altarpiece and information kiosks with Braille commentary are provided; magnifying glasses are lent free of charge. Seat canes are available near the entrance hall.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

An archaeology booklet for children, the Muséojeux section and activities to do at home are offered. The museum runs visits for toddlers, such as “Le voyage de Platypus”, and has signed up to the 10 Rights of the Young Visitor charter. Pushchairs are welcome and there is a baby-changing area.

Getting there & parking

Access to the museum is on foot only. Drop-off point for people with disabilities at 3 rue Kléber, 150 m from the entrance.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Café-Restaurant Schongauer on site, closed on Tuesdays and Sundays. Museum shop on site and online. Limited number of lockers; large umbrellas are left in an unsupervised bin.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 300 guests.

Spaces available for hire: La Piscine (former baths, 438 m²), the cloister and garden (May to October), the café-restaurant and the Pommarium courtyard.

Plan your visit