Bugatti Museum in Molsheim: the Fondation Bugatti and the birthplace of the brand

If you are looking for “the Bugatti museum in Molsheim”, be aware that the town has no large brand museum with dozens of cars. The memory of Bugatti is kept alive at the Fondation Bugatti, housed in a wing of the Chartreuse museum (musée de la Chartreuse) in the heart of the old town. It is an intimate place, run by the town of Molsheim, that tells how an exceptional car maker chose this corner of Alsace to build his cars. Here is what you will see there, and where to continue your discovery.

Molsheim, the birthplace of the Bugatti brand

It was in 1909 that Ettore Bugatti, then aged 28, founded his factory in Molsheim, in the premises of a former dye works. The first car produced was the Type 13. The following decades saw the birth of models that have become legendary, such as the Type 35, one of the most successful racing cars of its era.

In 1928, Ettore Bugatti bought the Château Saint-Jean, on the outskirts of Molsheim, to entertain customers, racing drivers and celebrities. The château is once again the headquarters of the Bugatti brand, which assembles its modern hypercars there. The site is not open to the public, but its gates still bear Ettore’s initials.

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The Fondation Bugatti at the Chartreuse museum

The Chartreuse museum occupies the former Carthusian monastery, whose monks settled in Molsheim in 1598 after leaving Strasbourg and remained there until the Revolution, in 1792. Founded in 1946 by Dr Henri Gerlinger, the museum moved into the Chartreuse in 1985. It presents the archaeology, art and history of the town, the great cloister and reconstructed monks’ cells with their furniture.

One wing of the prior’s house is home to the Fondation Bugatti, which keeps alive the memory of Ettore Bugatti and his family. Inside you will find:

• a few of the brand’s cars (the Foundation displays three, including a Type 35 according to guidebooks) and a chassis;
• unusual objects, furniture and documents linked to the Bugatti family;
• the history of the Molsheim factory and its workers.

A combined visit to the Chartreuse and the Fondation Bugatti takes about an hour to an hour and a half. It is an ideal stop for car enthusiasts and heritage lovers alike.

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Practical information

• Address: Musée de la Chartreuse and Fondation Bugatti, 4 cour des Chartreux, 67120 Molsheim.
• Opening: seasonal, usually from May to mid-October, with longer hours in summer and afternoon opening in spring and autumn. The museum is closed on certain days of the week: check the current year’s opening times before you come.
• Contact: +33 3 88 49 59 38 or musee@molsheim.fr, and the town of Molsheim’s website for up-to-date prices.
• Getting there: Molsheim can be reached by train from Strasbourg; the museum is a few minutes’ walk from the station and the historic centre.

Other Bugatti sites to discover

• The Molsheim Bugatti Festival: organised every year by the Enthousiastes Bugatti Alsace on the weekend closest to 15 September, Ettore’s birthday. Dozens of vintage Bugattis parade through the town before heading out onto the roads of Alsace and the Vosges.
• Dorlisheim cemetery: Ettore Bugatti and his family are buried in this village next to Molsheim; the festival traditionally begins with a tribute at his grave.
• The Cité de l’Automobile in Mulhouse: this is where you will see the largest collection of Bugattis in the world, from the Schlumpf collection, with around a hundred models on display among some 400 cars.

Making more of your visit to Molsheim

Take the opportunity to stroll through the old town of Molsheim, a former episcopal city, with its Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville and the Metzig, the Renaissance-style former butchers’ guild house. Molsheim is also a gateway to the Alsace Wine Route: the vineyards begin right on the edge of town. For a full day, combine the Chartreuse in the morning, a walk around the centre and a tasting at a local winegrower’s in the afternoon.

Émilie

Hello ! My name is Émilie, and I have a soft spot for stories that inspire dreams. From the legends of medieval castles to the mysteries of Alsatian forests and the tales of Great History, I take you on a journey through time. Passionate about writing and discovery, I spend my days exploring archives, listening to locals, and weaving this richness into my articles. I especially love writing about places where reality and imagination intertwine, like Mont Sainte-Odile or Christmas tales. So, are you ready for an extraordinary adventure ?

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