Are you off to Provence, to Marseille? A visit to the Mucem is a must!
MUCEM, which stands for Musée des Civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée, is a national museum in Marseille, opened on 7 June 2013, when the city was the European Capital of Culture. Visiting the Mucem is a great way to discover the history of European and Mediterranean civilisations. The museum brings together various disciplines – anthropology, archaeology, history, art history – to (re)discover the ancient foundations of one of the cradles of European civilisation, right up to the present day.
Visiting the Mucem is like stepping back in time through more than 2,000 years of human history. The museum has welcomed 8.5 million visitors since it opened, with an average of 1.255 million visitors a year. Not sure how to visit the Mucem? Here’s all our practical information on this must-see attraction in the Cité Phocéenne!
Book your MUCEM ticket in advance
The history of the Mucem
Marseille’s Mucem officially opened its doors on 7 June 2013. However, its abysmal collection dates back more than 130 years. Mucem is the great-grandson and heir of three museums: the Musée d’Ethnographie du Trocadéro in Paris (1878-1936), the Musée de l’Homme and the Musée National des Arts et Traditions Populaires. The project to open the Mucem was initially launched by President Jacques Chirac, and by Lionel Jospin, then Prime Minister (1997-2002).
The museum was the result of the Jospin government’s desire for cultural decentralisation, following the transfer to Marseille of the collections of the Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires, which had been housed in the Bois de Boulogne since 1937 and closed in 2005. It was finally, after 10 years of procrastination, between the Old Port and the Commercial Port, that the great Mucem was installed, opposite the harbour of Marseille.
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What to see and do at the Mucem in Marseille?
What should you see when you visit the Mucem? Mucem is spread over three sites: the J4 building, Fort Saint-Jean and the Resource Conservation Centre.
- The J4 : On two levels, 3,690 m² of permanent and temporary exhibitions, 360° panoramic views of the sea and a roof terrace.
- Fort Saint-Jean : A restored 12th-century fortress that was previously inaccessible to the public, Fort Saint-Jean offers a host of free activities for the people of Marseille, including exhibitions by Mucem, botanical walks in the Jardin des Migrations and spectacular panoramic views from the open-air site. It houses 1,100 m² of exhibitions and 12,000 m² of gardens.
- The Resource Conservation Centre : The third must-see site on a visit to Mucem is the Resource Conservation Centre, which alone houses over a million objects. A visit to the Mucem gives you the chance to wander through the museum’s 350,000 references, whose impressive dimensions cover an area of 45,000 m²!
Book your MUCEM ticket in advance
How do I visit the Mucem in Marseille?
Visiting the Mucem is a three-stage process.
In the J4 building, first visit level 0, the Galerie de la Méditerranée. Here you’ll find semi-permanent exhibitions dedicated to the art, history and anthropology of the Mediterranean world. Level 2 houses temporary exhibitions in two halls, each measuring 1,000 m². Here, visitors can admire art exhibitions that bear witness to the times in which they were created.
At Fort Saint-Jean, visit the Place d’Armes – a terrace at the top with concerts, projections and various meetings -, the Galerie des Officiers – to rediscover the history of the military fort -, the Jardin des Migrations – covering 12,000 m², on the heights, with plants endemic to the Mediterranean basin -, the Galerie d’Actualité, the gangways, the solarium, the chapel – which houses contemporary works -, the Georges Henri Rivière building.
Good to know: All Mucem exhibitions are accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Book your MUCEM ticket in advance
How to get to the Mucem in Marseille?
By metro
- Vieux-Port or Joliette stop (about 10 minutes’ walk)
By bus
- Lines 82 and 82s (stop Littoral Major or Fort Saint-Jean)-night line 582
- Line 60 (Littoral Major or Fort Saint-Jean stop)
- Line 49 (stop at Église Saint-Laurent, Littoral Major or Fort Saint-Jean)
Don’t forget to check the bus timetables
By tram
- Tram T2 stops at République, Dames or Joliette (about 10-15 minutes’ walk)
By car
- There are several car parks in the immediate vicinity of the Mucem.
From Marseille Provence airport
You can take an express shuttle between the airport and Marseille Saint-Charles SNCF station (shuttles depart every 15 minutes from the MP1 between Halls 3-4 and 1). Visit our partner website Ulysse to find the best price for your flight.
You can also hire a car at Marseille airport for greater freedom of movement during your stay in the heart of the Cité Phocéenne.
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Opening times and prices of the Mucem in Marseille
How much does it cost to visit the Mucem in Marseille? Here’s some practical information for your visit.
OPENING TIMES :
The Mucem is open every day except Tuesday.
Exceptionally closed on 25 December and 1 May.
- 19 May to 5 July: 10am to 7pm
- 7 July to 30 August: 10am to 8pm
- 1 September to 8 November: 10am to 7pm
- From 10 November: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
Good to know: The ticket office closes 45 minutes before closing time, and the halls close 15 minutes before it closes.
PRICES :
- Full price: €11
- Concession: €7.5
- Family ticket: €18 (5 children maximum, accompanied by two adults)
Guided tours :
- Full price: €14
- Concession: €9.5
- Under-18s: €4.5
Group tours (25 people):
- Guided tour 1h: 290€ (tickets included)
- Guided tour 1h30: 320€ (tickets included)
- Self-guided tour: €35 booking fee (tickets not included)
If you have any questions about the current health measures, find out more and book on the official website or call 04.84.35.13.13.
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