The museum is housed in the actual building where Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was born on August 2, 1834.
The collection contains the original plaster models used to cast the 'Lion of Belfort' in northeastern France.
The museum preserves Bartholdi's original drawing board and personal drafting tools.
The statue of 'General Rapp' in Colmar's town square is one of several local works by Bartholdi featured in the museum's historical documents.
The building was meticulously restored by the Bartholdi Society in the late 1970s to reflect the 19th-century bourgeois interior style.
The Musée Bartholdi is located in the ancestral home of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor famous for creating the Statue of Liberty. Situated in the historic center of Colmar, the museum occupies a 17th-century merchant residence. The permanent collection spans three floors and features original models, sketches, photographs, and personal artifacts from Bartholdi’s career. Visitors can view the small-scale terracotta model used for the Statue of Liberty's construction. The museum also displays Bartholdi’s personal effects, including furniture and family portraits. Beyond the statue, the collection highlights his work on other monumental sculptures, such as the Lion of Belfort. The ground floor often houses temporary exhibitions of contemporary artists. The museum includes a courtyard featuring a bronze version of the 'Little Vine Grower' sculpture.
The central courtyard, which offers a quiet perspective of the sculptor's bronze figures against the timber-framed architecture.
Visit the inner courtyard to see the tranquil garden and the 'Little Vine Grower' statue.
Take time to read the personal letters on display, which offer insight into the sculptor's political views and relationship with the United States.
Check the temporary exhibition space on the ground floor as it frequently features rotating works from local artists.
Do not mistake the museum for the various Statue of Liberty replicas scattered throughout Colmar; this is the only official museum dedicated to the sculptor.
Closed on Tuesdays. Open daily during the rest of the week, with closures on certain public holidays.
