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i 🖼️ Museums
Art museums to visit in the Grand Est
The Grand Est offers an artistic journey from Antiquity to contemporary creation. In Colmar, the Musée Unterlinden holds the Isenheim Altarpiece, created between 1512 and 1516 by the painter Grünewald and the sculptor Nicolas of Haguenau. In Metz, the Centre Pompidou-Metz, opened in 2010, presents modern and contemporary art beneath the roof designed by Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines, while the Musée de la Cour d’Or begins its tour at the Gallo-Roman baths. Nancy is the city of Art Nouveau, with the Musée de l’École de Nancy and the Villa Majorelle. Finally, Troyes has an interpretation centre devoted to stained glass.
To choose, start with your tastes. Lovers of old masters should head to Unterlinden and the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nancy, which covers seven centuries of European art and a Daum collection. Those curious about architecture and temporary exhibitions will make for Pompidou-Metz. Design and decorative arts enthusiasts should devote half a day to Nancy’s Art Nouveau. Watch out for closing days: most of these museums close on Tuesdays, the Musée de l’École de Nancy on Mondays too, and the Cité du Vitrail on Mondays. Several are free for under-26s: check the official websites before you go.
How to choose?
If you are travelling without a car
Pompidou-Metz is on the station forecourt, the Musée des Beaux-Arts a 10-minute walk from Nancy station, and the Cité du Vitrail 15 minutes from Troyes station.
🖼️ Centre Pompidou-Metz🖼️ Nancy Museum of Fine Arts🖼️ Cité du Vitrail (Stained Glass Centre)
If you are on a tight budget or under 26
Free for under-26s at Pompidou-Metz and the Beaux-Arts in Nancy; the Cour d’Or states that admission is free for individual visitors.
🖼️ Centre Pompidou-Metz🖼️ Nancy Museum of Fine Arts🖼️ Musée de la Cour d’Or
If you are passionate about Art Nouveau
Gallé, Daum and Majorelle in the villa of the patron Eugène Corbin, then Louis Majorelle’s own house: a well-matched half day.
If you are coming as a family
Free for under-12s at Unterlinden, with workshops on some days; workshops for 7–10-year-olds at the Cité du Vitrail.
🖼️ Unterlinden Museum🖼️ Cité du Vitrail (Stained Glass Centre)
ComparisonData taken from each listing, checked against official sources
| Place or activity | When | Time needed | Who it suits | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unterlinden Museum📍 Haut-Rhin (68) | Open all year, except Tuesdays and 1 January, 1 May, 1 November and 25 December | Half a day | All ages; tours and workshops for children from age 2 on certain days | Colmar station (TER, TGV), then on foot to the historic centre; town-centre car parks; A35 Colmar exit |
| Centre Pompidou-Metz📍 Moselle (57) | All year, except Tuesdays and 1 May | 2 to 3 hours for the exhibitions and the garden | All ages; accessible toilets on every floor, baby-changing tables in the Forum | Metz-Ville station on foot via the forecourt; METTIS A and B, Centre Pompidou-Metz stop; A4/A31 exit Metz Centre, 700-space car park |
| Nancy Museum of Fine Arts📍 Meurthe-et-Moselle (54) | All year, daily except Tuesdays, 10:00–18:00 (closed 1 Jan, 1 May, 14 Jul, 1 Nov, 25 Dec) | Guided tours of 1 hr or 1 hr 30 to 2 hr available | All ages; lift, ramp and wheelchair on loan at reception | Place Stanislas, a 10-minute walk from Nancy station; bus stop Stanislas – Dom Calmet; Stanislas and Vaudémont car parks |
| Musée de l’École de Nancy📍 Meurthe-et-Moselle (54) | All year, Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00–18:00 (closed Monday, Tuesday and some public holidays) | Allow half a day if you add the Villa Majorelle | Art and design lovers; the museum is not accessible to people with reduced mobility | Stan bus lines 10, 11 or 16 (Painlevé stop); car park on Avenue du Maréchal-Juin |
| Villa Majorelle📍 Meurthe-et-Moselle (54) | All year, Wednesday to Sunday afternoons; ground floor only from 28 October 2026 to the end of 2028 | — | All ages; free activity booklet for children | Stan bus line 3 (Sacré-Cœur stop) or 10 (Commanderie); Charlemagne car park; Nancy-Ville station |
| Musée de la Cour d’Or📍 Moselle (57) | All year, closed on Tuesdays | 2 to 3 hours for the full route | All ages, with plenty of resources for families and school groups | Central Metz, 2 Rue du Haut-Poirier, near the cathedral; Metz-Ville station, then on foot |
| Cité du Vitrail (Stained Glass Centre)📍 Aube (10) | All year round, Tuesday to Sunday (closed on 1 January, 1 May, 1 and 11 November, 25 December) | — | All ages; fully accessible route, workshops for ages 7–10 | Troyes station 1.1 km away (15 min on foot) or free town-centre shuttle, Cité stop; free parking on Rue des Trois-Ormes |
Map: Art museums to visit in the Grand Est
When to go?
- JanPossible
- FebPossible
- MarPossible
- AprPossible
- MayPossible
- JunPeak season
- JulPossible
- AugPossible
- SeptPeak season
- OctPossible
- NovPossible
- DecPossible
Peak season Possible Off season
📅 Art museums can be visited all year round and make an excellent fallback on rainy days. In December, a visit to Unterlinden or Pompidou-Metz combines easily with the Christmas Markets in Colmar or Metz.
Tips & insider advice
- Avoid Tuesdays
Unterlinden, Pompidou-Metz, the Beaux-Arts in Nancy and the Cour d’Or close on Tuesdays; the Musée de l’École de Nancy closes on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Make the most of first Sundays
The Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nancy and the Cité du Vitrail are free on the first Sunday of the month.
- Check for ongoing works
At the Villa Majorelle, only the ground floor is open from 28 October 2026 to the end of 2028, with a reduced rate for all.
- Take time over the altarpiece
The Isenheim Altarpiece is made up of several painted panels and sculptures: allow plenty of time in front of the work.
- Come by train
Colmar, Metz, Nancy and Troyes all have stations within walking distance of the museums: leave the car behind.
- Combine two neighbouring museums
In Nancy, the Musée de l’École de Nancy and the Villa Majorelle can be visited in the same half day.
Frequently asked questions
Which art museum should I visit in Alsace?
The Musée Unterlinden in Colmar is the benchmark: it holds the Isenheim Altarpiece by Grünewald and Nicolas of Haguenau (1512–1516). It is open all year round except on Tuesdays and some public holidays. Allow half a day; admission is free for under-12s.
Is the Centre Pompidou-Metz free?
Admission is charged, with a price that depends on the exhibitions, but it is free for under-26s. The centre is open all year round except on Tuesdays and 1 May. Check the official ticket office for current prices.
Where can I see Art Nouveau in Nancy?
At the Musée de l’École de Nancy, housed in the villa of the patron Eugène Corbin (Gallé, Daum, Majorelle), open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00–18:00. Round it off with the Villa Majorelle, where only the ground floor can be visited from 28 October 2026 to the end of 2028. The Musée des Beaux-Arts, on Place Stanislas, also has a Daum collection.
Why does the Centre Pompidou-Metz have a 77-metre spire?
The building’s central spire rises to 77 metres in reference to 1977, the year the Centre Pompidou opened in Paris. It supports a glued laminated timber roof of around 8,000 m². The building was opened in 2010.
Information checked in October 2026. Opening hours, prices and conditions may change: check the official website before you travel.