Mulhouse

Understand

thumb|250px|City view 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.

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.

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.