Mulhouse in Alsace in

Mulhouse in Alsace in the northeast of France is a master of reinvention. It was once a flourishing textile and manufacturing town but globalisation of industry has brought change - and for Mulhouse that means change too. The city is undergoing a metamorphosis - but with a nod to its powerful past. It boasts world’s biggest car museum, an incredible train museum, electricity museum and more. Former factories are being converted into restaurants and artists residences. Streets are being adorned with street art. Pop up shops with original clothes and accessories you won’t find anywhere else are making their mark. This city has a buzz about it, It’s thriving once more thanks to major support for its artistic community – with the largest artists’ residence in France - and it’s love for culture and heritage… Cité de l’Automobile There are over 400 cars at the immense car museum in Mulhouse. Car enthusiasts come from around the world to see some of the rare cars on display. When I went a Russian visitor told me he’d come from Moscow to see the cars and had spent three days there! There are incredibly well preserved masterpieces from cars of the 1870s to the 1970s mostly, though there are also some awesome racing cars that are more modern. Priceless Bugatti’s take centre stage, gleaming and sleek, they’re as rare as hens teeth. Hire a classic car (I chose a Ferrari!) to drive round the private track at the museum, take the kids to enjoy a go kart track, games and workshops. There’s so much here, you can spend an entire day at this one - and probably a lot more! www.citedelautomobile.com/

Cité du Train The train museum of Mulhouse has the biggest collection of trains in the world. There are locomotives from the 1840’s through to the newer steam and diesel and electric trains that are in use to this day. The exhibits are interactive and impressive. Take the petit train round the museum which is monumental, ride on a diesel train on the museum’s private track and take a train ride in the open air on a miniature railway. Whatever your age, this museum is huge fun. www.citedutrain.com EDF Electropolis Museum A museum dedicated to electricity? Yes! Electroplois is the biggest of its kind in Europe and it’s fascinating. There’s a working steam generator from 1901, and an exhibition which covers early experiments conducted from the 17th century up to modern day. There’s lots of vintage machinery to admire too, Voss’s electrostatic machine, Edison’s Dictaphone, and early versions of TV’s and fridges. There are also lectures and workshops – invited to stand in a cage and have my hair stand on end, who could possibly resist! www.musee-electropolis.fr Parc Zoologique et Botanique Founded in 1868 and covering over 20 hectares of the Tannenwald Forest, Mulhouse zoo contains over 1000 animals of more than 170 different species. The artic area is home to the polar bears and artic foxes, the large enclosures are home to the Siberian tigers, snow leopards and meerkats. The botanical gardens are heavenly and calm, in the summer months over 400 types of Iris flowers bloom beautifully alongside exotic trees from Japan and America. www.zoo-mulhouse.com