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Museum · Estrasburgo, Grande Leste
Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame
Museum of medieval and Renaissance art of the Upper Rhine, in the building of the foundation that has cared for the cathedral since the 13th century, with the original façade statues and a Gothic garden.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame
The Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame operates in the buildings of the Foundation of the Work of Notre-Dame, the institution that has overseen the construction and maintenance of the cathedral since the 13th century. The façades with stepped gables are on Place du Château, facing the cathedral.
The collection covers the art of Strasbourg and the Upper Rhine, from Germany to Switzerland, up to 1681, the year the city passed to France. The centerpiece pieces are the cathedral's original sculptures, moved indoors to be protected and replaced on the façade by copies. The figures of the Church and the Synagogue and the Wise and Foolish Virgins are among the best known.
There are also medieval stained-glass windows, sculptures by Nicolas Gerhaert de Leyde, paintings by Conrad Witz and Hans Baldung Grien, and still lifes by Sébastien Stoskopff. A room preserves Gothic architectural drawings of the cathedral itself, rare survivors.
The small internal Gothic garden was recreated with plants used in the Middle Ages and offers a breath of fresh air during the visit.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1½–2 hours.
Best time
Combine it with the climb to the cathedral platform: after seeing the sculptures up close, the façade makes more sense. The museum usually closes one day a week and takes a midday break on weekdays; check before you go.
How to get there
It is on Place du Château, between the cathedral and the Palais Rohan, about a 20-minute walk from Gare de Strasbourg. Tram: Langstross/Grand'Rue stop.
Tip
Keep your cathedral platform ticket: it gives a discount on the museum's admission for a few weeks. Start the visit with the façade sculptures on the ground floor.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame
What's special about the Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame?
The original statues from the cathedral's façade, kept there while replicas occupy their place, as well as medieval stained glass and paintings of the Alto Reno.
Is the museum far from the cathedral?
No, it's on the other side of the Place du Château, a few steps from the cathedral and the Palais Rohan.
Is there a discount for those who go up to the cathedral platform?
Yes, the platform ticket gives a discount on museum admission for a period after purchase. Check the conditions at the ticket office.