Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain (MAMCS)

The Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain de Strasbourg, known as the MAMCS, stands on the bank of the river Ill, a short walk from the old town, and its large glass front, which looks out over the water, makes it a recognisable modern landmark. It opened in 1998, in a building designed by the architect Adrien Fainsilber, and it was conceived as a place where art from the late nineteenth century to the present could be seen in generous, light-filled spaces. The museum's roof terrace and café give views across the river and the city, so a visit is also a pleasant way to see Strasbourg from a different angle.

The collection begins in 1870, with the Impressionists and their contemporaries, and runs through the twentieth century to current art. Among the artists represented are Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kandinsky, and the museum is particularly proud of its holdings of local figures. Strasbourg-born artists include the engraver and illustrator Gustave Doré, whose dramatic scenes are famous, and Hans Arp, the sculptor and poet who was a founder of Dada and later explored organic abstract forms. The Alsace region lay between French and German culture for much of this period, and the museum reflects that dual influence in its collection of Symbolist, Expressionist and abstract works. The displays include paintings, sculpture, decorative art and works in other media, such as installation and video.

The museum puts on several temporary exhibitions each year, often of contemporary artists, and has an auditorium for talks and screenings, a library and a bookshop. The architecture allows large works to be displayed with room around them, and the layout lets visitors follow the story of modern art in a roughly chronological route. Interactive features add information for those who want to know more, and the museum is welcoming to families.

It is a short walk from the Place Kléber, the main square, and the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, a Gothic masterpiece whose single tall spire dominates the skyline. The Petite France quarter and the Ponts Couverts, with their half-timbered houses and canals, are close, and the Musée Alsacien, in a group of old houses, shows traditional life. The Palais Rohan holds several museums in an eighteenth-century palace. The Jardin Botanique de l'Université de Strasbourg and the Parc de l'Orangerie are green retreats, and the European Parliament is in the north-east of the city. In winter, the Marché de Noël fills the old town.

Allow one to two hours. The museum suits art lovers, families and anyone who wants a break from medieval streets. Check opening days and prices before you go.