Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame

The Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame is located at 3 Place du Château on the Grande Île of Strasbourg, in the Alsace area of France's Grand Est region, just beside the cathedral. It occupies a group of medieval and Renaissance buildings that once served as the cathedral's works department, responsible for maintenance and construction. The collection covers Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance art from the Upper Rhine, with a strong emphasis on sculpture and stained glass. Many of the original statues removed from the cathedral for conservation are displayed here, among them figures from the west portals and the famous Gothic sculptures of the Church and the Synagogue. Visitors move through a sequence of small rooms and galleries with low light, which suits the stained-glass panels, some dating from the 11th century, among the oldest in France. Works by Hans Baldung Grien, Hans Holbein and other late medieval painters are among the highlights, along with goldsmith work, altarpieces and late Gothic woodcarving. The courtyard garden and the stair tower add to the atmosphere, and some rooms look out toward the cathedral. A visit takes about 1-1.5 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. Weekday mornings are the calmest time, and the free Sunday draws large crowds, as do school holiday afternoons. Photography is usually allowed without flash, and the low lighting makes a steady hand or higher ISO helpful. The museum pairs naturally with a cathedral visit, since seeing the original sculptures helps visitors recognise the copies on the facade. Visitors should check musees.strasbourg.eu for current hours, temporary exhibitions and ticket rules.