Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The historic museum of Strasbourg is housed in the former Grande butchery, a building classified as a historical monument built between 1586 and 1588. This place, located at 2 rue du Vieux-Marché-aux-Poissons, on the banks of the Ill, was transformed into a museum in 1920 to preserve and expose the political, economic and social history of the city. Its collections, enriched since 1919 by donations and purchases, cover various fields: medieval archaeology, military objects (arms, uniforms), paintings, drawings and models, including an exceptional relief plan of 1727 representing Strasbourg on a 1/600th scale.

Closed for twenty years for renovation, the museum reopened partially in 2007 under the direction of Monique Fuchs, first presenting the history of the city until 1800. The second phase, inaugurated in 2013, extends exhibitions to the contemporary era. Of the 200,000 items preserved, only 1,650 are exhibited, illustrating periods from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, with emblematic pieces such as souvenirs of General Kléber or traditional costumes. The building itself, with its Renaissance architecture, is a major testimony of the Strasbourg heritage.

The museum revolves around various themes: national archaeology, military collections (armors, vehicles), and local history, from the medieval free city to the revolutionary period. Access is facilitated by public transport (tramway lines A and D, bus line 10). Ranked among the Historical Monuments and labeled Museum of France, it plays a central role in preserving Strasbourg's memory, while offering an immersion in urban evolution through visual media and everyday objects.

The available sources, including Wikipedia and Monumentum, highlight its dual interest: architectural (the former butcher shop of 1588) and museum, with collections ranging from corporate masterpieces to historical documents. The Insee code of Strasbourg (67482) confirms its anchoring in the Bas-Rhin, Grand Est region, while bibliographical references, such as the works of Monique Fuchs or Bernadette Schnitzler, deepen its institutional history and its heritage issues.

Collection

Le musée présente l'histoire politique, économique et sociale de Strasbourg, à travers un ensemble d'objets militaires, de vêtements, de peintures, de dessins, de sculptures et de toute une collection d'objets allant du Moyen Âge au xviiie siècle.

External links