The Cité du Train – Patrimoine SNCF, in the Dornach district of Mulhouse in Alsace, is the national railway museum of France and the largest railway museum in Europe. Successor to the Musée Français du Chemin de Fer, it conserves the principal historic rolling stock of the SNCF and ranks among the ten largest railway museums in the world.

The collection holds more than 100 locomotives and over 200 items of rolling stock spread across a 60,000 m² (650,000 sq ft) site, of which around 35,000 m² (380,000 sq ft) is exhibition space. The museum grew from the passion of Mulhouse industrialist Jean-Mathis Horrenberger, who developed the collection with rail-transport specialist Michel Doerr of the AFAC. It was first presented to the public in 1971 in the former Mulhouse-Nord steam depot before moving to its current Dornach site.

In 2005 the museum reopened as the Cité du Train after an 8.6 million euro renovation, with management passing to Culturespaces, which already ran the neighbouring Cité de l'Automobile. The architect François Seigneur designed a theatrical display, "Le Siècle d'or du chemin de fer" (the golden century of the railway, 1860–1940), presenting around 138 pieces of equipment with sound and video staging.

The animated 232 U 1, which fires up roughly every 20 minutes, is the museum's signature photo moment. The semi-darkened Parcours Spectacle creates dramatic, moody images but demands low-light technique, while the outdoor Panorama Ferroviaire allows full-length shots of locomotives in daylight. Several locomotives and carriages can be boarded, giving access to cab interiors and footplates. Personal photography is permitted; check with staff before using a tripod or flash.

The Cité du Train holds some of the most significant machines in French railway history. The electric locomotives CC 7107 and BB 9004 are co-holders of the world rail speed record of 331 km/h (206 mph), set in March 1955 between Facture and Morcenx. The streamlined 232 U 1, a Hudson-type steam locomotive designed by Marc de Caso and built in 1949, is staged in the "Steam, how does it work?" area, where it is brought to life — hissing and "smoking" — roughly every 20 minutes.

Among the oldest exhibits is the Buddicom No. 33 "Saint-Pierre", presented as the oldest preserved locomotive in Europe, alongside an 1852 Crampton express engine with driving wheels about 2.30 m (7 ft 6 in) in diameter. The museum also preserves the lineage of high-speed travel, from "Le Capitole" — France's first 200 km/h (124 mph) service, introduced in 1976 — to an early TGV.

Beyond locomotives, the Cité du Train showcases the luxury and ceremony of rail: Pullman and dining cars, opulent saloon carriages, and official trains, including a carriage fitted with General de Gaulle's 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) bed.

The visit is organised into distinct areas. "Le Parcours Spectacle" is a theatrical, semi-darkened hall where locomotives and carriages are staged around six themes from the golden age of the railway — railways and holidays, railways and the mountains, official trains, railways and war, the railwaymen, and the world of travel — with mannequins and lighting effects that activate as visitors approach.

"Les Quais de l'Histoire" offers a chronological journey through major milestones of French railway history, while "Le Panorama Ferroviaire" presents life-size trains, with outdoor space where steam demonstrations can take place. A small electric road-train carries visitors among the big machines, and a large model railway adds to the appeal for families.

The recommended visit time is about 2.5 hours. On site there is the restaurant "Le Mistral" and a bookshop-boutique, both open during museum hours. Throughout the year the museum runs special events such as guided tours, escape games, murder-mystery evenings, candlelight concerts and unusual dinners aboard heritage carriages.

Operating Hours: Open daily except 25 December. 1 January–31 March: 10:00–17:00. 1 April–30 June: 10:00–18:00. 1 July–31 August: 9:00–18:00. 1 September–31 October: 10:00–18:00. 1 November–31 December: 10:00–17:00.

Special Events: Year-round programme including guided tours, escape games, murder-mystery parties, candlelight concerts among the locomotives, and themed dinners. Steam demonstrations are staged outdoors in the Panorama Ferroviaire mainly in the warmer months.

Peak Season: Summer (July–August), with the earliest 9:00 opening; the first Wednesday of each month is busy due to half-price admission.

Admission Prices (2026): Adult €16 (18+); child €12 (ages 4–17); reduced €13 (jobseekers, disabled visitors, students up to 26, railway staff with Pass Carmillon); under 4 free. Senior "Pass'temps" rate €8.

Ticket Types: Standard self-guided entry (visite libre) covers permanent collections, temporary exhibitions and animations. Guided visits add €4. Combined tickets are available with the neighbouring Musée Electropolis (+€5 adult), with the Écomusée d'Alsace and with the Train Thur Doller Alsace steam railway.

Booking: Online via the official ticketing site, or at the museum desks.

Discounts: Half-price admission on the first Wednesday of each month. Family Pass €48 (4 people, maximum 2 adults). Free entry for ICOM/ICOMOS members and Museums-Pass-Musées holders (outside special events). The museum is also included in the Mulhouse City Pass.

Wheelchair Access: The museum is accessible to people with reduced mobility across the main exhibition halls.

Mobility: Some gangways and walkways giving views into the interiors of rolling stock cannot be accessed for safety reasons.

Service Animals: Guide and assistance dogs accompanying visitors with a disability are welcome; other pets are not admitted.

Family Facilities: A road-train shuttle and a large model railway make the site family-friendly; the museum holds the Famille Plus label.

Clothing: Comfortable walking shoes — the site is very large (60,000 m²) — and layers, as the large halls can be cool.

Camera Gear: A camera that performs well in low light is useful for the semi-darkened Parcours Spectacle.

Food & Water: The on-site restaurant "Le Mistral" is open during museum hours; water is advisable in summer.

Family Items: The museum is stroller-friendly; allow time for the road-train and model railway.

Best Vantage Points: The animated 232 U 1; the outdoor Panorama Ferroviaire for full-length locomotive shots; boardable cabs for detail.

Optimal Lighting: Daylight outdoors; the Parcours Spectacle is deliberately kept in semi-darkness for effect.

Equipment: A fast lens and/or higher ISO help in the dim halls; a small tripod where permitted.

Composition: Use the long indoor halls for receding rows of rolling stock; capture running gear and nameplates up close.

Restrictions: Personal photography is permitted; confirm tripod and flash rules with staff.

Nearest Airport: EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, about 25 km (16 mi) from the museum.

Ground Transportation: Connections to Mulhouse by shuttle and road; car hire available at the airport.

Travel Time: Roughly 20–30 minutes by car.

Nearest Station: Mulhouse-Ville, served by TER regional trains and TGV (Est and Rhin-Rhône) services.

Transfer Options: From the station take tram line 3 (direction Lutterbach) or the tram-train (direction Thann) to the "Musées" stop.

Scenic Connections: Mulhouse lies on the Rhine-Rhône axis, within easy reach of Colmar, Strasbourg and Basel.

Major Routes: Via the A35 and A36 motorways, exit "Mulhouse Dornach".

From Major Cities: Strasbourg about 1 hour (110 km / 68 mi); Colmar, Belfort and Basel about 30 minutes each.

Scenic Routes: The Alsace Wine Route and the Vosges lie within easy reach to the north and west.

On-Site: Free car park directly in front of the museum.

Cost: Free.

RV/Bus: Coach drop-off available for groups.

EV Charging: Charging stations for electric vehicles are available on site.

Public Transit: Tram line 3 and the tram-train, "Musées" stop; about 5 minutes from Mulhouse city centre.

Rideshares: Taxis and rideshares available from Mulhouse-Ville station.

Walkability: The museum site itself is large; central Mulhouse is a short tram ride away.

Bike Rentals: On the EuroVelo 6 cycle route, with bike racks and a Vélocité station at Dornach station nearby.