Musée d'Art moderne et contemporain (MAMCS)

The Musée d'Art moderne et contemporain, known as the MAMCS, is at 1 Place Hans-Jean-Arp, on the edge of the Grande Île in Strasbourg, in the Alsace area of France's Grand Est region. It occupies a large glass-fronted building by the architect Adrien Fainsilber, opened in 1998, beside the Ill and not far from La Petite France. The museum presents art from the mid-19th century to the present. Visitors see works by Impressionists such as Monet, followed by Symbolist and Fauvist painting, Kandinsky and the abstract tradition, Picasso and the Cubists, and a notable group by Hans Arp and Sophie Taeuber-Arp, who were linked to Strasbourg. Galleries on the upper levels cover post-war and contemporary art, including installation work, photography and design, and the museum also holds a graphic arts collection and a Gustave Doré room. A large central atrium lets light into the circulation space, and a rooftop terrace gives a view over the city, the cathedral spire and the Ponts Couverts. A visit takes about 1.5-2 hours. The museum is closed on Tuesday and open other days about 10:00AM-6:00PM; admission is about €7.50, free under 18 and on the first Sunday of each month. It is quietest on weekday mornings and busiest on free Sundays and during exhibitions. Photography without flash is generally permitted in the permanent collection, with some restrictions on loans. The terrace is the best spot for pictures, particularly in the afternoon when the light falls on the old town. The museum is a short walk from the Homme de Fer tram stop, and there is a café on site. Visitors should check musees.strasbourg.eu for current exhibitions and hours.