Mulhouse is a vibrant city in eastern France, located in the Haut-Rhin department within the Grand Est region and part of the European Collectivity of Alsace. It is the largest city in Haut-Rhin and the second-largest in Alsace after Strasbourg, with a population of about 104,924 as of 2022. Situated near the tripoint border with Switzerland and Germany, Mulhouse is a key urban hub in the Upper Rhine Valley, often called "the French Manchester" due to its industrial history in textiles and manufacturing. The city is renowned for world-class museums, such as the Cité de l'Automobile (the largest automobile museum globally) and the Cité du Train (Europe's largest railway museum). It hosts the main campus of the University of Upper Alsace and the secretariat of the European Physical Society. Mulhouse’s strategic location fosters a multicultural atmosphere, blending French, German, and Swiss influences, and it forms part of the Mulhouse Alsace Agglomération (m2A), an intercommunal structure of 39 communes with about 280,000 residents in 2020.
Mulhouse sits at coordinates 47°45′N 7°20′E, covering 22.18 square
kilometers, with elevations from 232 to 338 meters (average 240 meters).
The Doller and Ill rivers, tributaries of the Rhine, flow through the
city, which lies near the Rhine River forming the border with Germany.
It is approximately 100 km from Strasbourg and Zürich, 350 km from
Milan, and 340 km from Frankfurt. Mulhouse shares the EuroAirport
Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg with Basel (Switzerland) and Freiburg (Germany),
boosting connectivity. The Vosges Mountains to the west and the Black
Forest across the Rhine create a varied landscape of urban, industrial,
and green spaces, including the Zoological and Botanical Park.
The
climate is temperate oceanic (Köppen: Cfb), with mild, humid conditions.
Winters are cool with occasional snowfall (about 32.5 snow days
annually), and summers can be hot and humid. Annual precipitation
averages 747.6 mm, spread evenly, with 1,819 hours of sunshine and 54.9
fog days yearly. This supports agriculture in the Alsace plain, known
for wine, though Mulhouse is more urban-industrial.
Mulhouse’s history traces to ancient times, with a notable 58 BC
battle between Julius Caesar’s Romans and Germanic tribes led by
Ariovistus. First mentioned in the 12th century as part of Sundgau
county in the Holy Roman Empire, it joined the Décapole, an alliance of
ten Alsatian cities, from 1354 to 1515. In 1515, Mulhouse allied with
the Swiss Confederation, maintaining independence and adopting Calvinism
during the Reformation until joining revolutionary France in 1798 via a
vote and the Treaty of Mulhouse.
The 19th century brought an
industrial boom, starting with textile printing in 1746 by Samuel
Koechlin, making Mulhouse a global leader in printed fabrics. It
diversified into chemicals, tanning, and engineering, with André
Koechlin’s railroad equipment firm (1842) evolving into the Société
Alsacienne de Constructions Mécaniques by 1872. Annexed to Germany after
the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), Mulhouse returned to France in 1918
via the Treaty of Versailles. It faced brief French occupation and
German reprisals in World War I, and German control in World War II
until liberation in 1945. Post-war, Mulhouse shifted to services,
education, and tourism, preserving its multicultural heritage.
Known as "the city with a hundred chimneys," Mulhouse’s economy was driven by textiles and manufacturing, earning its "French Manchester" title. Textiles, pioneered in the 18th century, peaked in the 19th with innovations in printing and dyeing. Engineering included aircraft production by Aviatik (1909–1914) and locomotives. Today, the economy spans automotive (tied to Stellantis, formerly PSA Peugeot Citroën), chemicals, and high-tech. Its location in the trinational Eurodistrict Basel supports cross-border trade. Recent investments include a 21-hectare logistics and industrial park acquired by VGP from Stellantis in 2024. Biotechnology is growing, with CellProthera’s 2024 Phase I/IIb study on stem cell therapies for myocardial infarction. Sustainable projects include a €130 million heating network in 2025 using biomass.
In 2022, Mulhouse’s population was 104,924, with a density of 4,700 per square kilometer. The urban unit had 246,692 residents in 2021, part of the Oberrhein metropolitan area with over 6 million people. Population grew rapidly during industrialization from 3,763 in 1793 to peaks around 110,000, stabilizing post-deindustrialization. The demographic reflects Alsace’s bilingual heritage (French and Alsatian German dialect) and includes Turkish, North African, and Eastern European communities. The m2A agglomeration supports a young, educated population, bolstered by the University of Upper Alsace. Property prices range from under €50,000 for small homes to over €1 million for luxury chateaux in Haut-Rhin.
Mulhouse’s cultural scene thrives due to its border position. The University of Upper Alsace offers programs in sciences, humanities, and engineering. Festivals like the Festival Automobile International and Christmas markets feature Alsatian crafts. The contemporary art scene blends local and global influences, with accessible venues. Education includes vocational training in industry and tech, with ties to universities in Basel and Freiburg.
Key sites include the Cité de l'Automobile, with over 400 classic cars, including the Schlumpf Collection of Bugattis; the Cité du Train, showcasing railway history; and the Musée Electropolis, dedicated to electricity. The historic center features Place de la Réunion, the Gothic Temple Saint-Étienne (a Protestant church with stained glass), and the Renaissance-style Hôtel de Ville. The Zoological and Botanical Park offers green space, while the Mulhouse Fine Arts Museum displays European paintings. The nearby Ecomusée d'Alsace preserves traditional village life.
Mulhouse is connected via the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg for international flights. High-speed TGV trains reach Paris in under three hours, with regional lines to Strasbourg and Basel. The local tram (three lines) and bus system, plus the VéloCité bike-sharing program (overhauled by nextbike in 2025), ensure urban mobility. A 100% removable car park project in 2025 promotes sustainable planning. Highways A35 and A36 link to neighboring countries.
Mulhouse emphasizes sustainability and innovation. A €130 million heating network project in 2025 uses biomass for efficient energy. Environmental concerns arose in July 2025 with PFAS "forever chemicals" in the water supply of nearby Saint-Louis, impacting 60,000 residents. Energy research includes hydrogen storage permits granted in June 2024. Urban upgrades feature the VéloCité bike system and modular parking. The art scene grows, with accessible tourism, including for visitors with disabilities. Mulhouse balances its industrial legacy with green and tech-driven initiatives.