Mulhouse

Mulhouse is an industrial city in Alsace, France west of the Rhine near the border to Germany.

Understand
Few cities in France can claim to be as industrial as Mulhouse. Regarded as the French Manchester, Mulhouse's history has ebbed and flowed with the rise and fall of various industries. Up until the 1970s it was among France's wealthiest cities. But as heavy industry began its inevitable decline, so did Mulhouse. Not unlike the north of England and the American Rust Belt, the city fell on hard times, with surging crime and unemployment rates.

After decades of decline, Mulhouse has started to re-emerge on the national scene as of 2020, though the seeds of the city's renaissance were planted since the 2000s. Thanks to its history, cultural heritage, geographic location, and a plethora of investments made to gentrify neighbourhoods, rehabilitate public transportation, and new stores, the city is slowly by surely getting out of its dark ages.

By train
Mulhouse is on the main line from Paris to Basel, and is also served by long-distance TGV services from Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur to Switzerland, Germany, and Luxembourg, and medium-distance TER services from Strasbourg. There are also local international services to Müllheim in Germany, for connections to Freiburg and Karlsruhe. For ticket purchase, see the SNCF.

By car
The city is at the crossroads of the Paris-Germany and Strasbourg-Basel motorways, so you can easily arrive by car.

By plane
The closest airport, EuroAirport is some 25 km south and serves Mulhouse, Basel and Freiburg. To reach the city from the airport by public transport, take bus 11 to Saint Louis railway station (€2.50) and then a local train to Mulhouse (€7.50). The train only runs hourly outside of business hours.

Be sure to leave the airport by the "Exit to France" exit to get to Mulhouse.

Other airports within a two-hour drive include Strasbourg Airport, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, and Zürich Airport.

By tram and bus
The city centre and major suburbs are linked by a three-line tram system. Other parts of the city are served by a bus network, although bus routes may be less frequent and have more limited operating hours. Both are operated by SOLEA. A single fare is €1.50, a carnet of ten single tickets is €13.40, a day-pass €4.30, and a three-day pass €8.20. There is also a tram-train service, extending certain journeys on route 3 onto the railway line to Thann.

See

 * The old town. The mostly-pedestrianised old town is not as picturesque as some others in Alsace, as it was mainly stone rather than timber-framed, and it was severely damaged during World War II. However, it still includes some attractive old buildings, most significantly the Cour des Chaines, a 16th-century townhouse now used as an arts centre.
 * The old town. The mostly-pedestrianised old town is not as picturesque as some others in Alsace, as it was mainly stone rather than timber-framed, and it was severely damaged during World War II. However, it still includes some attractive old buildings, most significantly the Cour des Chaines, a 16th-century townhouse now used as an arts centre.

Budget
There are many kebab shops.



Stay safe
Mulhouse is generally safe twenty-four hours a day and quiet at night, but people unfamiliar with the area would do well to steer clear of areas like Bourtzwiller (north of the A36) and Les Coteaux (at the west end of tram line 2). Beggars can be a nuisance, but you don't have to give them anything; they won't harm you. In the unlikely event that you should find yourself in trouble, call 112 free from any payphone or from your mobile.

Go next

 * You can continue your trip to the wine-growing areas of Alsace, or the other major Alsatian cities of Colmar and Strasbourg.
 * For fans of French-made cars, the Peugeot museum is located at the PSA factories in Souchaux near Montbéliard about 40 km from Mulhouse.
 * Germany and Switzerland are both reached in half an hour by car. The nearest major cities are Basel and Freiburg.
 * The Black Forest is a relatively short distance across the German border.