The Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame sits at the foot of Strasbourg Cathedral, and it tells the story of the building that dominates the city. The Œuvre Notre-Dame is the institution that has managed the cathedral’s construction site since the 13th century, and the museum occupies its historic house, a group of medieval and Renaissance buildings with timbered facades, cool courtyards, interior decoration and a small Gothic garden. Its collections cover the art of Strasbourg and the Upper Rhine from the Romanesque period to 1681, and the star attractions are the original sculptures that once stood on the cathedral and were replaced by copies to protect them from the weather. Among the highlights are works by Nicolas Gerhaert of Leiden, one of the great sculptors of the late Gothic period, including the famous bust of a man leaning on his elbow, and the figures of the Church and the Synagogue, which show two female figures facing each other in a classic medieval pairing. Paintings include works by Conrad Witz, Hans Baldung Grien and Sébastien Stoskopff, and the museum also shows stained glass by Peter Hemmel of Andlau. The visit is a good complement to the cathedral itself, because you can see up close the figures and windows that you would otherwise glimpse from far below. The museum also helps you understand how the cathedral was built and maintained over the centuries, with the craftspeople’s workshop tradition still alive in the institution that runs the site today, which makes the visit more than a simple art gallery stop. Strasbourg’s municipal museums publish the visitor information, and this page links to the museum’s own page.
How to visit
The museum is on the cathedral square, a few steps from the Palais Rohan, so you can combine the two easily. It is closed on Mondays and open on the other days, with weekday hours from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00, and weekend hours from 10:00 to 18:00.
The full price is 9 euros and the reduced price 5 euros, though rates can change, so check before you go. English-language tours are offered on selected dates, usually on Sunday afternoons, and an entrance fee applies, so look at the programme if you want a guided introduction.
What to expect
The museum is compact and atmospheric, with rooms that follow the layout of the old houses rather than a modern gallery. Stairs and uneven floors are part of the charm, though they can be tiring for visitors with limited mobility. Plan on about an hour and a half.
Labels are in French with some English information, and an audio guide or leaflet may help you decode the symbolism of the sculptures. The courtyards and garden are a peaceful place to rest after the busy cathedral square, especially during the Christmas market weeks, when the streets outside are packed.
Making the most of it
Visit in the afternoon after you have climbed the cathedral platform and seen the astronomical clock, then use what you have learned to look at the facade again. The Palais Rohan museums are closed on Tuesdays and the Œuvre Notre-Dame is closed on Mondays, so the two together make a good plan for a day when you want to see museums back to back. If you are travelling with children, ask at the desk about activities during school holidays.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit through medieval and Renaissance houses, with the cathedral’s original statues, paintings and stained glass.
Best time
An afternoon after the cathedral visit, or any time the cathedral square is crowded.
How long
About one to one and a half hours.
Tips
The museum is closed on Mondays and takes a lunchtime break on weekdays; English tours run on selected Sundays.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History and art lovers, and anyone who has just climbed the cathedral and wants to see its statues up close.
- Families
- Older children enjoy the grotesque and expressive faces on the sculptures; the stairs are steep for strollers.
- Couples
- A quiet hour in the courtyards and Gothic garden away from the market crowds.
- Pair with
- Strasbourg Cathedral, which is next door, and the Palais Rohan museums.
- Time needed
- About ninety minutes.
Good questions
What is in the Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame?+
Art of Strasbourg and the Upper Rhine from the Romanesque period to 1681, including original statues from the cathedral, paintings and stained glass.
When is the museum closed?+
It is closed on Mondays and open the other days, with a lunchtime break on weekdays.
How much does it cost?+
The full price is 9 euros and the reduced price 5 euros. Rates can change, so check before you go.
Where is the museum?+
At the foot of Strasbourg Cathedral, in the historic house of the Œuvre Notre-Dame, a few steps from the Palais Rohan.
Are there guided tours in English?+
Yes, English-language tours run on selected Sunday afternoons, and the entrance fee applies. Check the museum’s programme.
