The french Oil Museum
The French oil Museum presents the history of the first oil exploitation site in Europe until the closure of the refinery in 1970.
From the 18th century onwards, oil production took on an industrial dimension until the refinery closed in 1970. The geology of the Rhine Gap explains the unique deposit, which was exploited by wells, drilling and pumping, and even by mining galleries. Technical innovations have made Pechelbronn famous in the oil industry. The museum retraces 500 years of oil history in Northern Alsace: the extent of the mine galleries and the refinery, the birth of the ANTAR company and the Institut Français du Pétrole, and the first electric core drilling are some of the highlights of this unique saga. It also presents a complete overview of the geological formation of this oil and its unexpected uses.
4 Rue de l'École
67250
Merkwiller-Pechelbronn
03 88 80 91 08
museedupetrole@wanadoo.fr
musee-du-petrole.com
Visit to the french Oil Museum
Did you know? There’s oil under Alsace! Discover 500 years of the history of oil-mining in northern Alsace. In this region, the farmer of the Late Middle Ages already knew that the ground was filled with an oily substance that he had learned to use. From the 18th century, exploitation took on an industrial dimension until its closure in 1970.
The geology of the Rhine ditch explains a singular deposit which will be exploited by wells, drilling, pumping and even by mining galleries. Pechelbronn is renowned for its technical innovations in the oil industry.
After a video projection, the museum enables a complete panorama of the geological formation of this oil and its unexpected uses: embalming of mummies, remedies and construction. Operational developments, Raky drilling, rotary drilling, pole pumps as well as miners’ work are unveiled.
The extent of the mining galleries and refinery, the birth of the Antar company and the Institut Français du Pétrole and the first electric coring are some of the striking features of a unique saga. Renewable energies such as geothermal energy are also discussed.
Opening hours
from April to October on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Summer period : from the 1St of July to 31St of August from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (except Monday).
For public holidays, please contact the team.
Public price
Adult : €4.50Kid : €4.00
Price with the pass
Adult : FreeKid : Free
Nighttime Guided Tour of the Clemenceau Mine Site, the K’RO of Pechelbronn
17 May 2025 at 20:00
Nocturne
Nuit Européenne des Musées
As part of the Night of Museums, discover this unique industrial monument by flashlight or by the glow of your mobile phone.
Let yourself be guided through the maze of small paths leading to the top of the slag heap, where you can admire the surrounding landscape bathed in moonlight.
Reservation recommended. Please bring suitable outdoor clothing depending on the weather, as well as a flashlight.
Preuschdorf
22, rue Hattenweg
(sur la RD 28 entre Merkwiller et Preuschdorf).
67250 Preuschdorf
France