Schlumpf Car Museum Mulhouse 2005


As we are both interested in cars (Arthur especially!) while on the trail of the Tour de France last year, we decided to include another of our “Must do’s” -a visit to the famous Schlumpf Car Museum at Mulhouse. The campsite at Mulhouse was very conveniently situated near the town with buses from the site into the centre or it was possible to walk, however we went on our little motorbike and managed not to get too lost even though the town was a nightmare of road-works due to the complete restoration of the tramline system throughout the city. The noise and chaos was unbelievable! However we were not to be disappointed with the Museum and its wonderful display of cars. The story behind the Museum is an interesting one! It is housed in an old textile factory once owned by the Schlumpf brothers. The brothers were keen collectors of cars and in particular of Buggatis. Over the years they accumulated a vast collection that they kept hidden from public view and from their workers. So much money had been poured into the collection that when a slump in trade occurred there was no money left to keep the mills open and the workers were faced with losing their jobs. The workers were so incensed by this that they forced their way into the hidden museum, took out a car and burnt it in front of the brothers saying that unless they sold some of the collection to keep the factory open they would set fire to some more!

Eventually the factory was taken over by the Government, and the brothers fled to Switzerland where they remained never to see their beloved collection again. Now the building has been fully restored and these wonderful cars, some of which are priceless, are beautifully displayed together with interesting original films of early motoring and of the Schlump family. Its well worth a visit if you are near there.

A few photos taken at the Museum. click on image to enlarge

Location: A35/A36 motorway exit “Mulhouse centre”