Set beside the River Ill near Petite France, the Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art brings together art from the Impressionist period to today. Its collection includes paintings, sculpture, photography, graphic art and multimedia works, with pieces by Monet, Picasso, Kandinsky, Miró and Rodin. Look for the room devoted to Strasbourg artist Gustave Doré and Rodin’s The Thinker. The spacious galleries sit inside a bright modern building; the upper-floor café and terrace add a place to pause after seeing the collection.
Art from Impressionism to today
The Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, known as MAMCS, presents works dating from around 1870 to the present. Its collection includes painting, sculpture, graphic art, photography, multimedia and design. The range gives the galleries room for both well-known names and artists connected to Strasbourg and Alsace.
Among the artists represented are Claude Monet, Wassily Kandinsky, Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin, Max Ernst and Gustave Doré. The collection also includes work by Jean Arp and other regional artists. Displays can change, so a particular work mentioned in a guide may not be on view during your visit.
A room for Gustave Doré
Gustave Doré, the Strasbourg-born illustrator and artist, has a dedicated room in the museum. It is a useful stop if you want to connect the collection with the city’s own artistic history. The museum also includes photography and graphic-art spaces alongside its painting and sculpture galleries.
Rodin’s The Thinker is another notable work to look for. The museum’s collection includes classical and contemporary pieces, so you can move between different periods and approaches during one visit.
The building and upper floor
The museum opened in its current building in 1998. Its large glass structure and spacious, light-filled galleries provide a distinctly modern setting for the collection. The museum stands on Place Hans-Jean-Arp beside the River Ill, close to Petite France and the Vauban Dam.
An upper-floor café gives you a place to take a break, and the outdoor terrace has views across the city, including toward Strasbourg Cathedral. The café and terrace can make a useful pause between galleries, particularly if you want to spend time with the exhibitions rather than walk through quickly.
Planning your visit
The museum is closed on Mondays. It opens in the afternoon from Tuesday to Friday, while Saturday and Sunday visits can begin in the morning. Check the museum’s official website for current visitor information before setting out, and consider booking ahead, as the museum recommends advance tickets.
Admission is charged, with free entry to the permanent collections reported on the first Sunday of the month. Confirm the current arrangements before your visit. Some artwork labels are in French only, though selected exhibition information may also be available in English or German. A translation app can help you read descriptions as you go.
Perguntas frequentes
How long should I plan for the Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art?
Allow about 1.5 hours for a comfortable visit. You may want longer if you plan to spend time in the café or on the terrace.
Is the museum free on the first Sunday of the month?
Free admission to the permanent collections is reported on the first Sunday of the month. Check the museum’s website for current details before visiting.
Which artists can I see at the museum?
The collection includes works by Monet, Picasso, Kandinsky, Miró, Rodin, Max Ernst and Strasbourg-born Gustave Doré. What is on display can change.
Are the museum labels available in English?
Some labels are in French only. Selected exhibition information may be available in English or German, and a translation app can help with French descriptions.
