Street art and painted walls in Mulhouse

Head to the free car park at 27 Quai d’Alger, Mulhouse, which is often full on weekdays but not at weekends.

(S/E) Facing the canal, take the cycle path on the left. Pass under five bridges and leave the riverbank just before the^sixth (Rue des Noyers). Cross the canal via the footbridge, then continue straight ahead onto Rue des Corneilles. At the end, turn right onto Rue du Manège, then, after about a hundred metres, turn left onto Parvis Luis Loew

(1) After passing the Université de la Fonderie, continue along Allée Roger Imbery, then cross the railway line via the steps. Turn right onto the path leading down towards the Ill and go under the railway bridge.

(2) Discover the most amazing open-air street art gallery. Graffiti artists are often there.
At the end of the last stretch of graffiti, turn right and go through the gate leading across the car park of a large supermarket. At the petrol station, cross the road and continue along Rue de la Tour du Diable. Cross Rue Jacques Press and take Rue Sainte-Claire opposite, then the third street on the left, Rue de la Loi. Walk for about fifty metres and take the small path on the left towards the library, just after number 3. After the library, turn right.

(3) At the end of the Grand’Rue, at the junction, take in Vinie’s magnificent painted wall. Cross diagonally and turn right towards the Jardin des Senteurs.

(4) Before entering the garden, there’s a small red traffic light and a plane flies past on your right. On leaving, head left towards a section of wall dedicated to chemistry. Turn right onto Avenue du Président Kennedy, walk past the sub-prefecture and make your way to the end of the car park.

(5) In 2022, the City of Mulhouse is keen to celebrate the director and producer William Wyler, the man with 40 Oscars, who was born in Mulhouse in 1902. Cross the car park and walk along the right-hand side of the École Cour de Lorraine. Walk past the magnificent high-up panels, then turn right.

(6) At the Cour des Chaines, take a moment to admire the two magnificent sections of wall. Continue to the end of Rue des Franciscains and turn left (Rue de l’Arsenal). At Place de la Concorde, turn right and go under the archway into the Passage des Augustins. Then carry on along Rue de Lucelle until you reach Rue des Trois Rois. On the corner, there’s a mural on a shop that used to sell kitchenware. Carry on to the left and note the gas meters at No. 33 of this former shop, then you’ll reach the entrance to a pedestrian street.

(7) Follow this street (Rue des Boulangers).Can you spot the six red Flexo signs, each representing a value: ‘love, dare, persevere, dream, have fun, look to the horizon’?

(8) At the last Flexo, cross the Cour des Maréchaux, and continue along Rue du Marché then Rue du Werkhof until you reach Place Lucien Dreyfus. Take note of the superb trompe l’œil. Cross the square, turn right and continue along Place de Tonneliers. At the end, ignore the Passage des Cuveliers and turn right (Rue Paille) to reach number 16. 
Turn left onto Rue des Charrons and, at the end, opposite No. 23, turn right again onto Rue des Tondeurs. Turn left onto Rue du Sauvage and you’ll arrive opposite the Porte Jeune at the iron Schweissdissi.

(9) Do not cross the tram tracks; instead, turn right and quickly take Rue Pasteur, then, a few metres further on, Rue du Moulin. Turn left onto Rue Engelmann, then right at the next junction (Rue de Moselle).

(10) There you’ll find the MUR (Modulable, Urbain, Réactif), a space dedicated to artists that changes every month. At the end of Rue de Moselle, turn left and walk past the fountain featuring a work by Jana & JS. Continue straight ahead and quickly take the Passage de la Demi-Lune to reach a lovely trompe l’œil. Go through the archway to reach Place de la Réunion. Take a look at all the colourful houses and the old town hall on this square.

(11) Continuing on from the Town Hall, follow Rue Guillaume Tell to the square of the same name. Take a look at the portrait of Dr Latscha. Carry on to the right along Rue Alfred Engel and, at the end, turn left onto Rue des Fleurs.

(12) The ‘Les Amazones’ sculpture – even the ‘no entry’ signs are painted. Walk a few metres and enter Square Steinbach. Cross the square, then take the Passage du Théâtre opposite, at the foot of the Ballet de l’Opéra National du Rhin.

(13) Carry on straight ahead and walk through the beautiful central passageway with its glass roof dating from 1867. At the end, turn right onto Rue Sauvage and head towards Place de la République.

(14) Cross the tram tracks, then the Jardin de la Bourse, and keep left to take Avenue du Maréchal Joffre. At Rue Jean-Jacques Henner, first turn left then right and take the cul-de-sac. At the end, continue along the footpath and head towards the canal. Turn left, go up the stairs, then cross the bridge and turn left to return to the car park (S/E).

(S/E) Parking is available on the way to the station, costing between €1.50 and €8 per day in 2025.