Standing in the shadow of the cathedral

beside the vast Palais Rohan, the Musée

de l'OEuvre Notre-Dame is housed in

a complex of Gothic and Renaissance

buildings. Its remarkable collections of

sculpture, paintings, stained glass, tapestry,

furniture and objets d'art bear witness to the

vitality of Strasbourg art in the Middle Ages

and Renaissance. Masterpieces of medieval

statuary from the cathedral stand alongside

some of the finest examples of 15th- and

16th-century art from the Upper Rhine

region. The works of major artists, such as

the sculptor Nikolaus Gerhaert von Leyden,

the painters Conrad Witz, Hans Baldung

Grien and Sebastian Stoskopff, a great

master of still life, are displayed in a setting

worthy of their exceptional talents.

The museum itinerary covers seven centuries

of artistic development, the works always

displayed in perfect harmony with their

architectural surroundings. Original interiors

and the coolness of the courtyards and

gardens convey a sense of intimacy

with Strasbourg's rich past. Set out

chronologically, this book makes a visit

more rewarding by giving an insight

into the diversity of the collections

and the charm of the place itself.