France Guide
Alsace and Lorraine
Cité de l'Automobile, Musée National-Collection Schlumpf
Address: 192 avenue de Colmar; take tram #1 from gare SNCF or place Porte-Jeune to stop "Musée Auto"
Opening time: Daily 10am–5/6pm, Jan closed weekday mornings
Price: €10.50, combined ticket with Cité du Train, €17.50
Website: www.collection-schlumpf.com
A couple of kilometres north of the city centre the Cité de l'Automobile, Musée National-Collection Schlumpf houses an overwhelming collection of over six hundred cars, originally belonging to local brothers Hans and Fritz Schlumpf, who made their fortunes running a nearby spinning mill. Lined up in endless rows, the impeccably preserved vehicles range from the industry's earliest attempts, like the extraordinary wooden-wheeled Jacquot steam "car" of 1878, to 1968 Porsche racing vehicles and contemporary factory prototypes. The highlight is locally made Bugatti models: dozens of alluringly displayed, glorious racing cars, coupés and limousines, the pride of them being the two Bugatti Royales, out of only seven that were constructed – one of them Ettore Bugatti's own, with bodywork designed by his son. Car enthusiasts will want to spend hours here.