Build, preserve, hand on: 800 years of the Œuvre Notre-Dame
Happening now
From 16 October 2026 to 11 April 2027, the Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame traces eight centuries of the foundation that has looked after Strasbourg Cathedral since the early 13th century. Drawings, plans, casts, tools and photographs tell the story of its work and of the skills handed down to the present day. An exhibition to see at the foot of the cathedral.
Eight centuries caring for the cathedral
Set up in the early 13th century by the bishop of Strasbourg and the cathedral chapter, the Fondation de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame has watched over the building ever since. For its 800th anniversary, the museum bearing its name devotes a fifteen-section exhibition to it, co-organised by the Musées de la Ville de Strasbourg and the Foundation. The route presents its missions, its heritage collections and the trades that, generation after generation, keep the cathedral maintained and restored.
Drawings, casts and tools
Drawings, plans, photographs, casts and tools form the heart of the exhibition. They show how, since the Middle Ages, stonemasons, sculptors and architects have followed one another in the service of the cathedral. The craft skills of cathedral workshops were added to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list in 2020. To go further, the museum's permanent collections hold original sculptures removed from the cathedral.
On Place du Château, facing the cathedral
The Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame stands on Place du Château, right next to the cathedral. Admission is €9 (€5 reduced). The exhibition runs until 11 April 2027, as part of an anniversary programme lasting until summer 2027. On the same square, the Palais Rohan shows the exhibition on Cardinal de Rohan and the Necklace Affair from 20 November 2026, and the cathedral platform hosts the exhibition marking the centenary of the works on the tower pillar.
Practical information
Address: Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame, 4 place du Château, 67000 Strasbourg
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see the Œuvre Notre-Dame 800th anniversary exhibition?
At the Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame, Place du Château, next to the cathedral.
What are the dates?
From 16 October 2026 to 11 April 2027.
What is the Fondation de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame?
The institution set up in the early 13th century to build and then maintain Strasbourg Cathedral, a task it still carries out.
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