Musée Sundgauvien

" This museum was originally the residence that, in the 16th century, housed the Bailiff of the Habsburg seigneury, who was responsible for administering justice and overseeing the administration of the town of Altkirch. "

The Sundgauvian Museum is an excellent introduction to the diverse landscapes of this scenic region located in South Alsace (Sund-Gau = Southern region). The headwaters of the Ill River are there. The river flows through a region full of streams, ponds and woods, stretching between the Swiss border and the cities of Basel, Mulhouse and Belfort.
The Museum is housed in a beautiful Renaissance mansion, the former bailiffs' residence. It presents the region's history, life, traditions and artists. The collections feature:
- Mineralogy, fossils, Prehistory, Paleontology (cut stones from Oberlarg, pottery (Linear Band Pottery - Neolithic II)...
- Gallo-Roman and Merovingian artifacts. The local history, geography and traditions are represented by numerous documents and significant objects: portraits, furniture, a Rhenish Renaissance cupboard, polychrome wedding cupboards, earthenware stoves (Kunst) and various dishes, pots and pans.
- A room is devoted to the local costumes, lingerie and hats.
- The Fine Arts department exhibits remarkable paintings by J.J. Henner, L. Lehmann, A. Zwiller, J. Benner, A. Schachenmann, R. Breitwieser as well as sculptures by F. Voulot and antique statues.