La Nuit des Mystères

A unique Mulhouse invention in Europe

Launched in 2006 by the association Musées Mulhouse Sud Alsace, La Nuit des Mystères was born from a bold idea: to transform the traditional European Night of Museums into a gigantic life-size treasure hunt. Mulhouse, the second city in France by museum density, transforms for an evening into a huge game board where participants become investigators, detectives, and treasure hunters. The concept, new in France and Europe at its creation, quickly won over an enthusiastic audience: in seven editions, 150,000 entries were recorded, with a record of 32,000 participants in 2012.

Two routes for all ages

The event offers two levels of participation adapted to each profile. The Adventure route is for fans of escape games and intellectual challenges, with tough riddles that require logic, observation, and general knowledge. The Family route offers a more accessible experience, allowing younger participants to step into the shoes of little detectives while discovering the museum collections in a fun way. The SAM (Sud Alsace Museums) application enhances the experience with bonus questions that increase the chances of winning the Grand Prize.

Ten exceptional museums as a playground

La Nuit des Mystères unfolds in about ten museums in the conurbation, offering an extraordinary diversity of settings. From the Musée National de l'Automobile — Collection Schlumpf to the Cité du Train, including Electropolis, the Musée de l'Impression sur Étoffes, the Musée du Papier Peint, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the Musée Historique, La Kunsthalle, the Écomusée d'Alsace, and the Mine de Potasse, each location holds clues hidden within its collections. Participants travel from one museum to another using public transport included in the passport, creating a true nocturnal cultural odyssey through the conurbation.

An electric atmosphere from 2 PM to midnight

From 2 PM, teams launch their adventure and can continue their quest until midnight. As the hours pass, the atmosphere intensifies: the museums fill with visitors busy scrutinizing every display case, every corner, every artwork in search of the detail that will make the difference. The event combines friendly competition and cultural discovery in a festive and convivial atmosphere. Each edition is placed under an original theme - such as 'Board Games' in 2022 - which renews the experience and inspires the scenography of the routes in each museum.