In the Name of the Schlumpf Brothers, a Concours of Wonders

It was only a matter of time: the Cité de l'Automobile in Mulhouse, guardian of the celebrated Schlumpf Collection and the most significant assembly of Bugatti automobiles in the world, would sooner or later have its own concours d'élégance. That moment arrived in 2026. The first edition of the Concours d'Élégance International Schlumpf took place at the end of June, transforming one of the great symbolic venues in automotive history into a spectacular stage for a single weekend. Alongside the examples held by the Cité de l'Automobile, fifty cars were selected for the concours itself, joined by more than 120 vehicles brought by clubs and collectors for the surrounding display – and, of course, by the museum's magnificent permanent exhibition.

The founding idea behind the event was to create a dialogue between eras – setting classic Bugatti, Bentley, Jaguar, Facel Vega, and Ferrari alongside hypercars, prototypes, and contemporary models, in keeping with the expectations of a new generation of enthusiasts. At the heart of this first edition was the centenary of the Bugatti Royale: three of the six cars ever built were present – the Coupé Napoléon, the Park Ward, and the Esders. The cars also took to the museum's circuit in a demonstration run. It was a spectacle difficult to replicate anywhere else and one that, on its own, conveys the weight of the treasures held within the Cité de l'Automobile collection.